Kimber and Tucker Safety Coordinators
NEWSLETTER
Winter, 2014
Date: January 1, 2014
Attention: Current Safety Clients
Again this season, Kimber and Tucker have a few announcements relating to your Safety Programs. Please take a few minutes to review the following, initiated as part of our continued commitment to effectively coordinate your current Safety Program.
New Brunswick WC Act/ OHS Act amendments:
The following is a quick summary of amendments to the WC Act and OHS Act. These clarifications/enhancements will be enforced beginning in June this year:
- Clarify and modernize employer and worker obligations to report injuries.
- Establish clearer limitation periods for claim applications.
- Enhance the existing requirement for Health and Safety policies for certain workplaces.
- Introduce a new requirement for certain workplaces to establish an occupational Health and Safety Program.
- Clarify orientation and training requirements for new employees.
- Clarify and modernize the requirement to report accidents and incidents.
Workshops are currently underway to help explain the amendments to the industry. You can visit www.worksafe.nb.ca to view the amendments in greater detail, and to locate the workshop in your area.
PEI WCB Changes to Act:
Effective January 1, 2014, in addition to the existing employer duties, the new Act also requires employers to:
- Cooperate to help an injured worker return to work.
- Not knowingly provide false or misleading information.
- Report when an employee returns to work.
- Report any change in an employee’s status that could impact his entitlement to benefits.
Effective June 1, 2014, there will be a five-year limitation for filing work-related hearing loss claims. Contact WCB for more details.
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI Internal Responsibility System (IRS):
Clients are reminded that all OH&S authorities place the responsibility for workplace Health and Safety on EVERYONE in the workplace.
Rate Increase Delay:
As per the policy we adopted in January 2013, we will again delay our rate increases until July 2014. Increases will reflect the annual cost of living increase per province from the previous year, as published by Statistics Canada.
New Forms:
With the goal of developing a more consistent way to better serve our clients, in January 2013 we developed and initiated the use of new Hazard Assessment and Site Inspection Forms. Beginning this January, we will implement a new Monthly Summary Form, which will be used by our Coordinators.
Reminders:
- Our new website, which started in early 2012, can be located at www.kimbertuckersafetycoordinators.com.
- We continue to accept Visa/MasterCard payment. Please contact this office if you wish to add your company to the growing list of firms who are taking advantage of this service.
- Our Coordinators require your site locations to enable them to make more efficient use of their time, resulting in more efficient and cost effective service to the client. It is the responsibility of the client to advise our Coordinator the location of your work sites.
Regards,
Jim and Nevin