February is Heart Month!
Given that February 14th is Valentine’s Day, a holiday that is usually associated with hearts, it’s probably not surprising that February is Heart Month. Here’s a quick reminder of why that’s important: — Cardiovascular disease is the 2nd leading cause of death in Canada — Men are more likely to die of a heart attack than women — One in 12 Canadians over the age of 20 live with diagnosed heart disease — High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are contributing risk factors Doctors advise that pursuing a healthier lifestyle can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and some heart-healthy lifestyle habits include: — Eating better (fish, fruits and vegetables) — Getting more exercise (low impact such as swimming or walking) — Quitting smoking — Limiting alcohol consumption — Maintaining a healthy weight — Reducing stress As depressing as this may seem, the reality is that every one of […]
What you need to know about EPRS statements
If you are an Alberta employer, you should have received your Employer Premium Rate Statement sometime in December or possibly late November (if you didn’t, you might want to check the Workers’ Compensation Board online portal and/or your email). If you’re new to the process, here’s a quick recap on how it works: Every year from the end of November to mid-December, WCB Alberta sends out its premium rate statements. This document tells all employers in Alberta who have a registered WCB account how much they will pay for WCB coverage the next year. Depending on your company’s track record with injuries and claims, combined with your industry’s overall injury rates, the increase to your premium rates could be significant, or you could be given a discount on your previous rate. In the WCB’s 2026 Premium Rates Highlight sheet, it says that the board is several years into a multi-year […]
It’s the time of year when slips and falls are a real concern
Whether we like it or not, wintertime is upon us, and that means a higher risk of slips, trips and falls, which can cause injuries ranging from sprains and strains to broken bones and concussions. These incidents lead to lost work time, reduced productivity, higher replacement and overtime costs, and increased workers’ compensation claims. Employers are legally responsible for providing safe workplaces, including safe entry and exit on employer-owned or maintained property such as parking lots, walkways, stairs and entrances. And winter hazards affect all workplaces — not just construction sites. Slips and falls can also happen inside the workplace for a number of reasons. Slips, trips and falls Slips occur when traction is low (due to ice, spills, loose mats, wet floors) Trips occur when the foot hits an object (due to clutter, poor lighting, uneven surfaces, cables) Falls can result from both slips and trips, and can cause […]
Time to register for WCB Alberta’s Partnership in Injury Reduction program
Annual Experience Rating statements will be released soon for employers across Canada, so it’s a good time to review some of the ways in which you can reduce your future WCB premium rates. Obviously, one way is to not have as many claims, since your WCB claims from the three preceding years are used to calculate your premium rate. So for next year (2026) the number and costs associated with the claims you had in 2022, 2023 and 2024 will determine what you pay in terms of a premium rate. There is one additional way in which Alberta employers can reduce their premium rate, and that is to take part in the WCB’s Partnership in Injury Reduction program. In order to do so, you have to register no later than December 31, 2025. The benefit can be significant: If you qualify, you can get a refund of up to 20 […]
How AI could help make the workplace safer part three
(Note: This is the third in a three-part series on the use of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. The first part is here and the second part is here) Whether we call it machine learning or artificial intelligence, there are tools in the workplace now that can use video evidence and other tools to identify and flag a wide array of hazards in real-time, including wet floors, exposed wires, hairline cracks in machinery parts, or equipment left in dangerous positions. Its precision allows it to detect minute irregularities that might be imperceptible to the human eye. These kinds of tools can also verify the integrity and correct positioning of safety barriers, guardrails, or railings in the workplace, and ensure that workers maintain safe distances from operating machinery or hazardous equipment, and that all essential safety signs are correctly placed and clearly visible. Some companies are using AI systems to […]