The Signal: WorkplaceNL's Health and Safety Podcast

Part 2 - Got Your Back: Suicide Prevention in Construction

Construction workers face a unique set of challenges that can take a serious toll on mental health. The construction industry is both physically and psychologically demanding. Issues such as physical hazards, job demands, job insecurity, lack of control over schedules, and the constant juggle between work and family. The industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is not immune to this issue and there is a critical need for conversations aimed at increasing understanding of what workplaces and system partners can do to support the mental health of workers and prevent further loss of life. In this episode, DeeAnne Feltham-Scott is joined by Tammy McCabe, Mark Balsom and Corey Parsons, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force, for a discussion on the complex factors, limited employer and peer support, negative coping mechanisms, and deeply ingrained silence around mental health in the trades.

Part 1 - Got Your Back: Suicide Prevention in Construction

Construction workers face a unique set of challenges that can take a serious toll on mental health. The construction industry is both physically and psychologically demanding. Issues such as physical hazards, job demands, job insecurity, lack of control over schedules, and the constant juggle between work and family. The industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is not immune to this issue and there is a critical need for conversations aimed at increasing understanding of what workplaces and system partners can do to support the mental health of workers and prevent further loss of life. In this episode, DeeAnne Feltham-Scott is joined by Tammy McCabe, Mark Balsom and Corey Parsons, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force, for a discussion on the complex factors, limited employer and peer support, negative coping mechanisms, and deeply ingrained silence around mental health in the trades.

Move Well: Smart Handling for Everyday Life

Manual Material Handling is something we all do throughout the day, whether at work, at home, or anywhere in between. Moving boxes, carrying groceries, gardening, or housework are common activities of daily life. The information presented in this episode applies to everyone. Tune in to hear WorkplaceNL colleagues Cheryl Osborne, MSI Advisor, Colleen Pittman, Health and Safety Advisor, and Kathleen Sullivan, Certification Training Specialist discuss the basics of manual material handling, share relatable stories, and review strategies for smart handling in everyday life.

Grounded in Safety, Leading in Action

True leadership on the frontline begins with strong advocacy for workers' health and safety, and an understanding of the roles we play in workplace health and safety. Kiel Willams, NL Power was awarded WorkplaceNL’s 2024 Safety Leadership Worker Award for being a trusted voice and leader in occupational health and safety. From identifying potential hazards to mentoring new employees, Kiel represents the meaning of leading with action.  Kiel is joined today by DeeAnne Feltham-Scott and Miranda Brazil, Manager, Safety of NL Power, as they explore the challenges of creating a safety-first culture in the field and how peer-driven initiatives can make a lasting impact on worker health and safety. Wherever you work, this episode highlights that safety leadership begins with each of us.

The Sound of Safety: Protecting Hearing at Work

Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational disease claim in Newfoundland and Labrador, but it is preventable. Employers must develop a hearing conservation program if their workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels to protect hearing health. DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant, WorkplaceNLis joined by Marta Evstigneev, Coordinator of Education, Canadian Hard of Hearing Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Aaron Jones, Industrial Hygienist, WorkplaceNL to describe hearing loss, explain the contributing factors to hearing loss and outline the elements of a hearing conservation program.