New Years has come and gone, and with it the promises of adding positive changes in our lives. How many of us have said we’re going to “lose a few extra pounds”, “get back in shape”, or “learn a new hobby.”? And how many of us will actually follow through on our resolutions? Making a new years resolution can feel like the thing to do at the time, when really it should be a conscious choice to do something better for yourself. So how do we make a vow for change, AND keep it? Remember to keep it simple and realistic, and be your best cheerleader! Telling yourself...

Working during winter feels more like survival of the fittest than an everyday challenge. The risks are even tenfold for employees who have to work and drive outdoors. Here are nine tips that will help keep you safe during this trying season. 1. Bring out those hands! Hold it! Don’t remove those gloves or mittens yet. I mean, just think twice before walking outside with your hands in your pockets. Why? Keeping your hands in your pockets increases the risk of you falling or completely losing your balance in case you slip while walking on ice or snow. 2. Mittens VS. Gloves Gloves sure look fashionable but donning...

Holidays are a busy and magical time of year for most Canadians; however, many holiday traditions can increase safety hazards not often found at other times of the year. Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat hundreds of people for injuries related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. To ensure you have a safe and happy holiday, here are some safety tips to consider this season. Toys and Gifts Choose toys that are appropriate to the child's age. Be sure to read and follow all warnings and instructions. Toys with small loose parts can be dangerous for children under three years of age. Keep them out of reach....

How many of us have the hours of our day already filled when we wake every day?  Wake up, get ready for work, quick breakfast and out the door. Come home, dinner, clean up, get ready for the next day and it’s time to grab a few hours sleep. Days meant for resting on the weekends are replaced by chores and errands missed during the week. When can we grab some time to unwind? We need to take advantage of the few hours offered to us through out the day to relax and shake away the stress. The opportunities to take two week vacations are few and far...

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate. Is the Flu Vaccine a good idea for my family? That’s the question all of us should be asking as a new flu season nears. No one knows how bad a flu season will be until after it’s over. But each flu season, people are hospitalized, some die, and some develop other complications like sinus and ear infections and pneumonia. With last year’s Swine flu frenzy ending only recently, many of us are not ready to think about the upcoming season. But health officials want us to think otherwise. That’s why they’re ramping up the supply and their efforts to spread word...

We experience stress at work when we are not able to meet the demands of our job. Common causes of excessive workplace stress are: Fear of layoffs Increased demands for overtime due to staff cutbacks Pressure to perform to meet rising expectations but with no increase in job satisfaction Pressure to work at optimum levels – all the time! Signs of Stress include:  Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed Apathy, loss of interest in work. Problems sleeping Fatigue Trouble concentrating Muscle tension or headaches Stomach problems Social withdrawal Loss of sex drive Using alcohol or drugs to cope How can you reduce stress? Most people would like to reduce...

Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault insurance program that provides employees with medical and financial benefits if they are injured at work, regardless of whether their own negligence contributed to the accident. In return for these benefits, workers give up the right to take legal action against their employers and other workers for work-related injuries and illnesses. WCB operates like any insurance company by pooling risk. Employers share the cost of compensating injured workers so individual employers do not have to bear the full cost of claims alone. Employers are responsible to pay 100% of the cost of the workers’ compensation system. The amount and cost of coverage provided...

A friend of mine confessed that she once warned her husband not to swallow his gum because it would stay in his stomach for seven years. She has since learned that her mom was only telling her this because she didn’t want her to eat it. After I closed my gaping jaw, and stopped giggling, I realized that many of us may live parts of our lives according to myths told to us in our past. The truth is that, while gum doesn’t fully digest in you, it will pass through in the same lump it was swallowed with. Below is a list of some common myths you...

When we imagine the types of employees who get workplace injuries, we often think of those who exert a lot of physical energy. While it’s true that employees in these work environments may be at greater risk for injury, office workers are also at risk. Unfortunately, many office jobs require that we perform repetitive motions to fulfill our duties. For this reason, Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI’s) are the most common injuries occurring in the office. Positioning the body in unnatural positions can put strain on areas such as the wrist and spine. Our physical differences are endless, yet many of our workstations look exactly alike. We spend several...

Summer has arrived! Camping, swimming, hiking, picnics, and numerous other activities that normally aren’t as attractive to everyone during the cold winter months, are now here for the taking. All of which are made that much more fun with the warm rays of the sun falling all around us. So what are you waiting for?! You’ve traded in your long sleeve sweaters and snow pants for sleeveless shirts and shorts to keep cool during the hot summer days; and hopefully add a little colour to your skin to erase the pasty effects of the long cold winter months. But we also need to remember that while we’re shedding...