| Policy Spotlight | |
At its recent September meeting in Yellowknife, the Governance Council approved revisions to five policies: 02.06, Account Registration; 04.03, Choice and Change of Health Care Provider; 04.04, Complementary and Alternative Treatment; 04.05, Dental Treatment; and 10.03, Procurement.
To view all of our current polices, including policies under review, visit our website. | |
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2014 Assessment Rates
Employers - keep your eyes on your mailboxes! We release the 2014 Rate Guide in late October. The guide lists the 2014 average provisional assessment rate, the year's maximum insurable remuneration (YMIR), and industry classifications with subclass rates.
All employers registered with the WSCC in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut can expect a personalized letter outlining changes to their subclass rates, showing their 2013 rate and new 2014 rate.
If you have any questions about the rates, please call 1-800-661-0792 or email us. |
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Codes of Practice - Fall Protection
The WSCC is happy to announce the final code of practice in its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) series is being released at the end of October.
The PPE codes of practice series include:
Codes of practice provide practical guidance for stakeholders to meet the safety standards of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Safety Acts and Regulations. Stakeholder input is critical in the development of WSCC codes of practice.
 The General Safety Regulations require the use of fall protection PPE when working at an elevation of 3 m (10 ft.) or more. The PPE Fall Protection code of practice provides clarity about regulatory requirements, applicable CSA standards, and overall information about fall protection.
Codes of practice are available on the WSCC website. Email for more information or to learn how you can participate in developing upcoming codes of practice.
Codes of practice are guidelines. Please refer to the Safety Acts and Regulations to know your legal requirements. |
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Partners in Compliance
Earlier this year, the WSCC began a partnership with Partners in Compliance (PIC), a program that provides motor carriers an opportunity to achieve higher safety standards, and the means to recognize those achieving those standards.
PIC shares an overarching safety philosophy with WSCC; we want to make sure workers get home safely every night.
PIC allows companies to show their peers their commitment to the safety of their employees, and instills pride in all their members.
B.C. Forbes quotes, "There is more credit and satisfaction in being a first-rate truck driver than a tenth-rate executive," and Lorrie Christensen, PIC Director, agrees. Having pride in your job and committing to doing your best everyday shows your engagement.
The program, revitalized in 2006, provides savings on a number of transport-related fees, the ability for members with a transponder to bypass inspection stations, and a safety rating of Excellent.
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Thanks Karin!
After nine years with the WSCC, Karin McDonald is finishing her term with the Governance Council (GC) as the Northwest Territories Employer Representative on October 14. Karin is a small business owner in Inuvik. She brought her intricate knowledge and experience as a Northern employer to our decision making table.
Karin served the full allowable term of nine years, and we thank her for her dedicated service.
This leaves an essential opening on our GC, and we're currently looking for interest in this part-time position. Qualified individuals can forward their resumes by October 18, 2013, to The Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Northwest Territories Minister Responsible for the WSCC. |
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Stakeholder Engagement - Policy Reviews
We want to hear from you!
The WSCC regularly reviews policies and welcomes stakeholders to participate in the process. We want to hear your ideas and opinions on current issues.
 Upcoming policies under review include Policy 03.09, Psychiatric and Psychological Disability, and Policy 03.10, Pain Disorders. Let us know your thoughts on these policies by viewing them on our website, and emailing us
your feedback before January 29, 2014, or calling 1-800-661-0792.
Our GC dedicates time quarterly to review, discuss and approve policies.
Interested in seeing what other policies are under review? Check our website to see the schedule and deadlines for comments. |
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Change is Coming: Proposed Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Recognizing the need for updates in the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the Ministers Responsible for the WSCC established the Safety Advisory Committee (SAC) to consult with employers and workers across the territories to address the outdated OHS Regulations.
From September 2010 to March 2011, the SAC consulted with the public on the proposed OHS Regulations.
The WSCC commits to helping employers understand their responsibilities under the new OHS Regulations, to facilitate their compliance when they become law.
The proposed OHS Regulations:
- Recognize and facilitate the partnership between employers and workers for occupational health and safety at the work site, and enhances the role of Joint Worksite Health and Safety Committees;
- Decrease the Chief Safety Officer and Safety Officers interventions in non-serious matters which employers and workers can resolve;
- Facilitate employer, worker, and other stakeholder input in the development and use of Codes of Practice (guidelines, standards);
- Increase the role for preventive measures (hazard assessments, programs, plans);
- Enhance supervisors' role in high-risk work (Supervisor's Certificate);
- Update requirements for personal protective equipment, including fall arrest systems;
- Address the unique occupational health issues for workers in the North (cold weather work, cessation of routine work below -45 C, risk of frostbite, altered properties of materials, permafrost);
- Address harassment and violence at the work site;
- Include new requirements for noise control and hearing conservation;
- Revise the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS);
- Address radiation safety, including protection of pregnant workers;
- Include new provisions concerning forestry and mill operations;
- Establish additional protection requirements for electrical workers, health care workers, and firefighters; and
- Ensure all provisions throughout the OHS Regulations facilitate enforcement, to clearly identify non-criminal regulatory offences.
The Safety Act and Regulations do not apply to mining or oil and gas operations. Contact us for more information! |
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Continuous Excellence
Lean is a business philosophy and a set of process improvement tools that originated in the manufacturing industry. It is used with impressive results in many sectors, from service-based organizations to healthcare to public service. Lean tools help organizations identify non-value added activities and streamline process flows to build a culture of continuous improvement. 
The WSCC commits to service excellence. Manage for Quality Results is a Strategic Priority in our 2012 - 2014 Strategic Plan. To support this strategic priority, the WSCC adopted Lean across the organization to support the objective of improving processes and increasing service to our stakeholders. We are calling this initiative Continuous Excellence. This past summer, staff received training on Lean, prioritized processes, and created a long-term plan to ensure Continuous Excellence embeds everything we do.
How will Continuous Excellence be tangible to our stakeholders? Over time, we commit to delivering improvements in our service to you - whether it be submitting a form, or wait times for a service. Continuous Excellence is all about our strive to do things better. |
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We Want Your Feedback!
Our Stakeholder Survey is an important way for us to hear from you. Your feedback helps us prioritize and plan, and lets us know how we can better serve you. This fall, Leger Marketing will be calling stakeholders on behalf of the WSCC to conduct the 2013 Stakeholder Survey. Please take the time to have your voice heard. |
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Holiday Reminder
The WSCC offices close for Thanksgiving Monday, October 14, 2013. Call 1-800-661-0792 to report a serious injury or incident during the closure. |
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Improving Insight
Insight helps keep you current on WSCC information. If you have suggestions of how we can make it better, let us know. |
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