You may have noticed in the November issue that we are now featuring SafetyNet in four languages: English, French, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun. Select the links above for your preference.

Are you a business owner, partner, registered director, or self-employed? If so, you don't automatically receive WSCC coverage through your employment. To receive WSCC coverage, you need to sign-up for Personal Optional Coverage, which provides you with the same benefits as other workers in case of workplace disease and injury.

You can apply for coverage for as little as one month, and up to one full year. You need to renew your coverage each year, and renewals are due on December 31, 2014. For additional information, click here to view our Personal Optional Coverage brochure.

To view and fill out the Personal Optional Coverage form please click here, or email Employer Services in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut for more information.

A strategic plan is a roadmap for an organization. The strategic planning process challenges an organization to prioritize competing initiatives, to choose what to do and what not to do, and ensures all actions fit with the organization's Vision, Mission, and Values. 

At the WSCC, our strategic plan operates on a three-year cycle and in 2015, we begin a new three-year plan. This plan builds on the progress made since the last cycle and recognizes the factors contributing to the WSCC's successes and reflects on areas that can improve. Together, with the annual Corporate Plan, it outlines the organization's priorities and commitments to stakeholders. Internally, it provides the basis for more detailed divisional operational plans to ensure that all organizational activities connect to the Vision to Eliminate Workplace Diseases and Injuries.

Three priorities will drive the WSCC's work in the next three years: advancing the safety culture; delivering quality services and outcomes for workers; and sustaining the Workers' Protection Fund. The 2015-2017 Strategic Plan and the 2015 Corporate Plan are approved by the Governance Council and we look forward to presenting them to our stakeholders. You can find them on our website in early 2015.

Every year, Skills Canada Northwest Territories puts on a two-day conference for Grade 8 youth, giving them the opportunity to experience different trades and skills.

This year, the WSCC hosted 24 youth during the Power Up! event. Participants learned how to identify and control hazards, including eliminating the hazard, understanding worker rights, proper hearing protection, and hands-on use of a fire extinguisher with an electronic simulator.

We hope we saw some future Safety Officers during our event! Check out Skills Canada NWT and Skills Canada Nunavut to learn more about the upcoming Skills Canada Competition happening in May 2015.

The Governance Council approved revisions to the following policies at its December 2014 meeting:

• 03.11, Allowances and Services for Severely Injured Workers;
• 04.02, Payment for Medical Aid and Services (previously titled Payment for Medical Aid);
• 04.06, Prescription Drug Use;
• 04.07, Medical Examinations;
• 04.08, Medical Devices; and
• 06.03, Calculation of Permanent Compensation.

WSCC Policy and Corporate Reporting wants to hear from our stakeholders. If you or your organization have ideas or opinions about any of our policies or processes, please let us know. 

To contribute to the policy development process, please email policy@wscc.nt.ca.

As 2014 comes to an end, the WSCC is gearing up for the start of a new three-year strategic plan. To make sure we provide employers with the services they need, we are hitting the phones and the streets to ask!

During January and February, WSCC team member Mike Filipowitsch will call and visit employers across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. He will collect valuable information about how your organization works with the WSCC, what support you need from us, and ways we can work together to advance a strong Northern safety culture.

The information Mike collects directly supports our strategic priority of Delivering Quality Services and Outcomes for Employers and Workers. The President's Office will use the data to make recommendations to ensure our services meet your needs.

Don't get a call or a visit? Don't worry. We will post our questions on our website for all employers to participate. Stakeholder engagement is very important to us, as together, we can eliminate workplace diseases and injuries.

For more information, contact Dave Grundy, President & CEO or Melanie Walters, Senior Advisor.

Slips, Trips, and Falls 

During the holidays, it is common to be on the run: shopping, wrapping gifts, dinner parties, and much more. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and not pay attention to your surroundings. The winter months cause additional weather hazards, such as icy ground, melted snow puddles, and low levels of light for visibility. 

Here are some helpful tips to prevent slips, trips, and falls:

• Don't rush - take your time.
• Take shorter strides; point your feet slightly outwards to improve balance.
• Wear proper-fitting, appropriate footwear for your work.
• Immediately clean all spills or puddles.
• When using mats, use pressure-sensitive adhesive to keep them from moving.
• Keep one hand free to balance or break a fall.
• Paint smooth floors with sand set in the mixture.
• Practice good housekeeping.

For more information, please click here for our information bulletin on Slips, Trips, and Falls. 

During the holiday season, WSCC offices close for public service mandatory leave at 5pm local time on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, and reopen 8:30am Monday, January 5, 2015.

To report a workplace incident or for items needing immediate attention, please call our 24-hour Incident Reporting Line at 1-800-661-0792.

Interested in any of these topics, or looking for more information? Check out our website, or email us! We'd love to hear from you!