Occupational Injuries and Fatalities in Canada
|
Year |
Employees
(millions) |
Injuries |
Fatalities |
Injuries
per million workers |
Fatalities
per million workers |
1970 |
7.03 |
301,653 |
918 |
42,909 |
131 |
2001 |
15.00 |
373,216 |
920 |
24,881 |
61 |
|
Source: Work Injuries and Diseases National Work Injuries Statistics Program, Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, Canada 1999-2001
Small and achievable reductions in risk can generate large benefits
to society. The cost to Canadian society of the risks resulting in injuries
and fatalities in 1998 and their con-sequences were approximately $18 billion.
Details of the cost of injuries and illness to society can be found in our evaluation
study at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports/n0451.pdf.
Every day in Canada, three people die from a work accident or occupational disease. On average a worker is injured on the job every 9 seconds. To continually reduce these loses the focus has progressed to prevention of occupational diseases, illnesses, injuries and fatalities.
As a national institute, CCOHS undertakes a wide range of activities to achieve its objectives. These activities include the following:
- The provision of technical documents, data and related safety information to the health and safety community, Canadian workplace communities and the education system. An important element of this activity is to improve the coordination of the flow of occupational health and safety information.
- The promotion and evaluation of research on occupational health and safety issues.
- The provision of expert advice and training in occupational health and safety.
- Participation in meetings and conferences to contribute to improving prevention of safety and health problems.
- Other activities consistent with the mandate of promoting improved health and safety in the workplace and the physical and mental health of Canadian workers.
Occupational health and safety continues to be important to Canadians. Although there have been significant improvements, even one injury or death is unacceptable. CCOHS contributes to Canada's goal of strengthening Canada's social foundation, sustainable development, safe communities and Canada's role in the world. CCOHS works closely with labour, business and all levels of government to establish high standards for occupational health and safety, to foster consultation and co-operation, and reduce or eliminate occupational hazards.
CCOHS contributes to the priorities of Canada as outlined in the throne speech in the following ways:
Canada's Role in the World
- CCOHS contributes to greater collaboration among nations to promote the sharing of information and knowledge for social programs relating to health and safety to reduce injuries and illness and improve conditions for workers. CCOHS participates in promoting and supporting occupational health and safety initiatives with global organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health, International Labour Organization, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. CCOHS also participates in representing Canada at the Tri-National Working Group of Government Experts in Occupational Health and Safety. Details of various projects can be found in our annual report at:
http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html
Strengthening Canada's Social Foundations
- The overall health of Canadians is a key issue. Workplace health
and safety affects directly or indirectly all Canadians and influences
the social and economic fabric of Canada. CCOHS continues to engage
many health care providers and advocates in the public and private
sectors to improve the health of Canadians. By broadening the participation
of many organizations, CCOHS is securing deeper commitments, contribution
and participation in improving health. Details of specific projects
that deliver health benefits are noted throughout this report and
in our annual report. http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text59.html
By providing access to occupational health and safety information we provide a level playing field and equal access to all workers.
Sustainable Development
- CCOHS provides extensive information on chemicals and their impact on health and the environment. CCOHS is a major source of information for government regulators and the chemical industry, manufacturing and citizens.
Great Places to Live A New deal for communities
- CCOHS contributes to fostering Safe Communities via its information resources and participation in the Safe Communities programs throughout Canada.
Risks and Challenges in Delivering Services
One of the challenges in reporting performance information in a program that primarily provides information is to measure the prevention of injuries and illnesses that did not occur. Also, there are numerous other factors that impact statistics on occupational health and safety.
Measuring the numerical delivery of information to clients is simply achieved. However, the contact point with CCOHS is counted as one, but the actual reach is far greater since the recipient of the information often shares the CCOHS service with numerous other people. Measuring the satisfaction with the service can also be achieved. CCOHS has completed a customer survey in 2004. However, the impact this information had on an individual or organization is much more difficult to measure as it may take some time for the information to be used for implementation of change. Evaluating the reach and impact of CCOHS services is difficult. A further evaluation study will be completed in 2005.
CCOHS continues to balance the role between providing free of charge public services with our cost-recovery program. CCOHS funds 50% of its annual budget through cost recovery via sales of products and services. Sales are impacted by the general state of the economy, monetary exchange rates and CCOHS' ability to keep abreast of changing technologies, and global competition in OSH information. It is very costly to update technology and product content with limited staffing available to be dedicated to this area. Generating revenues while operating in a government environment is difficult to achieve.
Since most products and services are delivered electronically, it is a continual struggle to keep operating systems and software current to meet the requirements of clients.
While the internet provides many opportunities, it also is a risk factor. Information is readily available from many sources. CCOHS strives to distinguish itself as a reliable and trusted source of unbiased and credible source of information.
CCOHS is committed to addressing the challenges it faces through expanding information services and technology. The goals of modern comptrollership continue to be pursued and are outlined in Part D.
B. Strategic Outcomes
Planned
Versus Actual Spending Tables
Resource
Requirements by Organization and Business Line
|
Comparison of Total Planned
Spending to Actual Expenditures, 2003-4 by Organization and Business
Line
|
Business Line CCOHS
|
$ |
Planned Spending
Total Authorities
Actual Spending
|
4,024,000
4,172,849
4,018,412
|
|
Note: CCOHS has one business line |
Planned spending represents the amount authorized through the main estimates process. Authorities represents the total amounts authorized for the entire year, including the main estimates. The increase in total authorities represents funding received for modern comptrollership and rollover amounts. Details are provided in our annual report at:
http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html
Strategic Outcomes
Measuring the effectiveness and reach of programs, which provide information to effect social change is a challenge for all organizations. While reporting of statistical information on contacts made and customer satisfaction for service can easily be measured, it is much more difficult to measure reach and impact. CCOHS's products and services are one part of many variables that impacts accidents and illness rates. Statistics on Canadian injuries, illnesses and fatalities continue to show significant improvements.
It is not possible to establish the number of injuries, illnesses and deaths prevented as a result of CCOHS activities directly. Many factors influence these variables. The logical links relating CCOHS programs and activities to improve workplace outcomes are clear. According to the evaluation study, pg. 51, many individual workers use CCOHS to provide them with assistance on specific workplace health or safety issues. The information products which are sold have direct application in the workplace. The widespread use of CCOHS information implies that there will be important workplace impacts.
CCOHS provides the tools necessary for employers and employees to be informed about the hazards and risks and to be knowledgeable about the actions to take to prevent injuries and illnesses. The changing needs of Canadians are identified and relevant information provided.
CCOHS maintains a program to be in contact with clients and citizens to address their satisfaction with our services. Ongoing feedback is sought through surveys. Our latest independent program evaluation can be reviewed at
http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports/n0451.pdf Another evaluation is planned for February 2005.
How are we working towards our strategic outcomes? Success can be demonstrated by the following:
Summary of Strategic Outcomes
|
Strategic Outcome: All Canadians have a right to a healthy
and safe work environment. |
CCOHS provides Canadians with a national centre dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of unbiased information on occupational health and safety. CCOHS serves to promote health and safety in the workplace, to help establish high standards for occupational health and safety, and to foster consultation and co-operation among governments, labour and employers to reduce or eliminate occupational illnesses and injuries.
Actual spending for 2003-4 is $4.0 million. |
Key Partners: |
CCOHS is governed by a tripartite Council of Governors with representatives from labour, business and governments (provincial, territorial and federal) representing their constituents from across Canada. Further discussion on partnerships as they relate to our strategic outcome can be found in the performance report. Other key partners include http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/partner.html
: |
|
Planned Results as per the Report on Plans and Priorities: |
- Provide Canadians with information through a free
inquires service to assist with health and safety concerns. Client
satisfaction and results are evaluated annually.
- Provide information in many formats to ensure accessibility
for all Canadians, see http://www.ccohs.ca/products/subject.html
Information sources are reviewed and updated as a result of client feedback.
- To be a world wide leader contributing to the advancement
of occupational health and safety http://www.ccohs.ca/ CCOHS collaborates
with many organizations to enhance world wide knowledge in health and
safety.
- To satisfy key stakeholders' expectations, labour,
business and all levels of government in the quality and impartiality
of CCOHS programs and services http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/council.html
This is evidenced by the many projects and shared initiatives.
- To increase the recognition of occupational health
and safety as an important educational issue with the ultimate goal
of reaching youth to teach OSH in many different parts of the educational
curriculum. CCOHS works with many educational institutions to increase
knowledge in occupational health and safety issues. http://www.ccohs.ca/education/
|
Program, resources and results linkages |
Actual
Spending
In Millions |
|
$1.3
$1.1
$.65
$0.3
$0.6
$.05
|
|
|
|
Performance Indicator: Level of Satisfaction with Free Inquiries Service |
The CCOHS Inquiries Officers are a team of specialists in occupational health and safety and information retrieval who can access all CCOHS publications, world-wide databases, and an extensive in-house library to provide up to date and relevant answers. Over 3.7 million inquiries were answered through the Internet service "OSH Answers". By directing routine questions through the self-serve web site, information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Canadians. Specialists in workplace health are available through a free of charge telephone service or e-mail to assist Canadians with more complex questions. This service is confidential and is promoted throughout Canada by the Centre and its stakeholders through various means, such as trade shows, the World Wide Web, the blue pages, and the Centres literature. During 2003-4, this service provided responses to 16,209 inquiries through its direct service.
|
The Inquiries Service is available to answer Canadians through its telephone service, e-mail, fax and Internet. The Inquiries come from a variety of sources. In order to prevent barriers to obtaining information that is essential for workers, this service is provided free of charge. |
|
A recent customer Satisfaction Research Report indicates that clients find the overall quality of the service, the usefulness of the information and the relevance of the information to be the most important to them. With this information, CCOHS can focus efforts in these areas in information delivery. The study also measured client satisfaction on various service attributes. Overall, the Inquiries service resulted in 84% being either satisfied or very satisfied. The complete details are available at: http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html
Information obtained from CCOHS is used for in a variety of ways, the most common are:
- improving health and safety programs
- developing best practices
- complying with occupational health and safety regulations
- information for education or training purposes
- personal use or information
Approximately 75% of users use of information relates to either current or future changes to the workplace that may result in improved workplace health and safety.
Respondents rated the CCOHS Inquiries service very highly for all performance indicators, such as timeliness, ability of staff, courtesy of staff, along with the overall satisfaction with the service. Ratings for CCOHS for overall satisfaction is 86%, a much higher rating compared to 56% for the sample of federal departments providing an information service.
The level of satisfaction with CCOHS products and services for this report
appear in Citizens First 2000 (Erin Research).
CCOHS' 2004 client feedback indicates an overall satisfaction rating of 4.6 on a scale of 5 for clarity, completeness, usefulness and timeliness. This is consistent with prior year results. One of the unique features of the Inquiries service is that calls are received directly by a highly skilled Inquiries Officer. The needs of the caller are more accurately assessed by this method so the most useful information can be provided. Callers are pleased they have direct access to assistance rather than redirected from one person to another person or to a lengthy voice mail system. The narrative comments on the feed back cards indicate the strong appreciation for this personal service.
Information obtained from CCOHS is shared with many people, so the reach is far greater than the usage statistics. For example in 2004, 85 requests were received for copyright publication. As a result, information was duplicated over 216,000 times and potentially shared with many more individuals. The organizations included government departments, companies, unions, health care organizations and educational institutions.
|
|
16,209 inquiries are personally answered annually through this free and confidential bilingual Inquiries Service center, in addition to the 3.7 million answers provided through the CCOHS website |
|
|
"Thank you for the information, it has been very helpful in assisting with drafting a policy to handle employees' confidentiality with regard to AIDS"
"The material on your site is very useful and a great asset to companies who are developing a safety program in their workplace."
|
|
|
CCOHS provides timely information on areas of concern to Canadians. In 2003-4, Canadians have been concerned about mould and vermiculite insulation and asbestos. In addition, other topics of interest include the following:
- What are the health hazards of mold & how do I deal with it?
- I've found some loose asbestos in the building materials at home/work. How dangerous is it, & what do I do with it?
- The air in my office/ factory/ shop is awful. What can I do about it?
- I'm facing harassment & potential violence from my employer/ co-worker/ employee. What can I do about it?
- My boss is asking me to lift a heavy load all by myself. Do I have to? Can he force me to do so?
- Do I have to make a new MSDS for a chemical product I'm importing from overseas?
- I'm starting a new business & need info to put a basic OH&S program together - can you help?
|
OSH Answers
OSH Answers is a bilingual web-based information service which covers over 600 topic areas in occupational health and safety. OSH Answers covers many topic areas in occupational health and safety. The information is presented in a Question-and-Answer format and the topics are based on questions that the Inquiries Service has received over the past 25 years.
|
Over 3,150 questions and answers are on the website, which answered over 3.7 million inquiries on health and safety this year. |
|
|
The purpose of OSH Answers is to:
- promote occupational health and safety in Canada.
- provide Canadian workers and workplaces the answers to common occupational health and safety and environmental health concerns.
- provide basic occupational health and safety and environmental health information to help users to make informed decisions while addressing and resolving practical workplace concerns.
- share on the Internet occupational health and safety information for the benefit of Canadian and other workers throughout the world.
- make the occupational health and safety information readily accessible to new users including students, family members, and other people who are not in the workforce yet or who have not had much or any exposure to workplace health and safety issues.
|
The target audiences for the OSH Answers are the workers, managers, supervisors, joint health and safety committee members who are the "end users" of the information in the workplace. In addition, employers, policy makers, family. This program has been extremely successful by serving approximately 1,178,000 inquirers and responding to over 3.7 million questions in 2003-2004.
The feedback received by website users indicate that the information is being shared with others, on average 10 other people in their organization. Seventy two per cent of respondents indicated that the use of information from CCOHS related to either current or future changes to the workplace that may improve occupational health and safety. This suggests that the information available on CCOHS web site is being used to improve workplace health and safety and thus decrease the number of work-related injuries and deaths.
CCOHS goal to satisfy inquiries users and to share as much information as possible in order to affect change in Canadian workplaces is being achieved. In order to make the service more accessible, selected OSH Answers are being offered in Spanish. |
|
Performance Indicator: Provision of databases in useable formats
CCOHS provides products in various formats to satisfy the needs of the clients.
Information is available in paper copy, Internet, intranet, web, compact disc formats and DVD. Electronic delivery of information is presented in highly useable and searchable formats to serve the client. CCOHS provides over 60 databases within its product line. New and revised publications are developed each year to meet the needs of Canadian Workers. New editions of several Health and Safety guides were published in 2003-2004, including Warehouse Workers Safety Guide, Indoor Air Quality Health and Safety Guide and Grounds Keepers Safety Guide. The Emergency Response Guide and Health and Safety Guide for Libraries were published this year. Each year over 14,000 copies of various guides are sold throughout Canada.
Our evaluation revealed that purchasers of CCOHS Health and Safety Guides, - 92%, of them state that the guides are being used to improve health and safety.
CCOHS offers a broad range of products in various formats, including the Internet. The contents of many databases are updated regularly. In addition, the user interface for the internet based products was replaced with powerful new search interface with cross-database searching, "Subscriber Extras" and a monthly Chemical Notification Service.
|
New
publications are produced to meet the expressed needs of Canadians.
Publications are an inexpensive method
of getting specialized information directly to workers to be used at the
worksite. |
|
|
Number of Persons in Organization Using CCOHS Information
|
Product |
1 to 10 (%) |
11 to 100 (%) |
101 to 1 000 (%) |
more than 1 000 (%) |
MSDS, ChemInfo |
56 |
26 |
15 |
3 |
Chempendium |
69 |
22 |
6 |
3 |
RTECS |
83 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
OSHLINE, NIOSHTIC |
58 |
16 |
11 |
16 |
OSH Candata |
64 |
29 |
7 |
0 |
Health and Safety Guides |
87 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
OHS Legislation |
69 |
28 |
3 |
0 |
INCHEM |
90 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
INTOX |
80 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
All products |
67 |
21 |
9 |
4 |
Source: Survey of CCOHS customers |
|
Data on the number of years purchasers have been buying CCOHS products and the frequency with which the products purchased are used are reflective of the relevance and usefulness of products. Overall, 73% of product users purchased the product for over three years.
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Performance Indicator: Increase the availability of unbiased and reliable health and safety resources for Canadians
CCOHS maintains current information and provides unbiased information to Canadian workers and workplaces. The tripartite structure of its Council, comprised of representatives from labour, business and governments, directs the provision of unbiased CCOHS services. Council meets three times a year to review operational plans and provides input from its constituents. Canadians benefit for the high quality directions set by the governors that is reflected by the development of programs and unbiased information that can be used to improve occupational health and safety. Co-operative arrangements with international organizations help CCOHS to secure up-to-date world-wide information on workplace related illness and injury prevention. The relevant international information is provided to Canadians. A summary of the products and services is available at:
http://www.ccohs.ca/products/subject.html.
In 2004, CCOHS expanded its delivery of courses to include internet based e-learning courses. CCOHS provides person to person training courses.
CCOHS works with international organizations to secure up to date information for the benefit of Canadians. For example CCOHS developed a web portal for the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health http://www.whoocchealthccs.org.
This portal provides each national collaborating centre with a site to present its own occupational health information, and links to other information within their country. This web portal that was recently developed is in addition to the CIS Centres Information Network http://www.ciscentres.org. CCOHS also represents Canada at the Tri-National Working Group of Government Experts in Occupational Health and Safety and Health. This initiative was organized under the provisions of the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation (NAALC). CCOHS is the Canadian representative in two of the four Technical Working Groups formed Developing a Tri-national Website and Hazardous Substances. CCOHS maintained and enhanced a website to facilitate communications among working group members from Canada, USA and Mexico, and to provide OSH information from the three countries. http://www.naalcosh.org/index_e.htm
The purpose of CanOsh is to enable Canadians to easily and independently locate Canadian occupational safety and health (OSH) information for the purpose of legal compliance, improving workplace health and safety practices and ultimately to facilitate the acquisition of information required for reduction in workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. It is designed to provide Canadians with a convenient and efficient way to access the health and safety information provided by the federal, provincial and territorial government agencies responsible for OSH, Workers' Compensation Boards and CCOHS. This site can be reached at http://www.canoshweb.org/. By using this site, Canadians can easily search and navigate 14 governmental jurisdictions and multiple websites.
|
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A national website for the 14 governmental jurisdictions of Canada will help Canadians negotiate easily through the maze of regulations and information on occupational health and safety, compensation and labour.
www.canoshweb.org |
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CCOHS is the Workplace Health partner of the Canadian Health Network (CHN). CHN's mission is to support Canadians to make informed choices about their health by providing access to multiple sources of credible and practical e-health information. CCOHS has selected, catalogued and developed over 1,000 resources. CCOHS also fosters a growing network of organizations involved in workplace health and wellness issues. CCOHS hosts an on-line discussion forum for the affiliates and has developed an electronic bulletin newsletter called Health@Work. The Work Place Health Center is promoted to the network and at various venues throughout Canada. CCOHS also actively participated in the national Healthy Workplace Steering Committee and Healthy Workplace Week. This included the "Resource Well" section of the Healthy Workplace Week website http://www.healthyworkplaceweek.ca.
One example of a collaboration is a Workplace Stress Resource Guided developed with the Hamilton Public Library.
|
As a partner of the Canadian Health Network, CCOHS is developing workplace health information for use by Canadians as part of an integrated national health information service. |
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Details of other partnerships and collaborations that help contribute to this objective can be found in the Centre's Annual report which is available on our website http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html.
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The Health and Safety
Report e-Newsletter was developed to provide Canadians
with a monthly electronic newsletter with current OSH information.
A readership survey was conducted in 2004 to evaluate the impact
and the effectiveness of the service on workplace health and
safety. The results of the survey indicated the report was useful
in the following ways:
- 75% to implement change in the workplace
occasionally and frequently
- 71% occasionally/frequently use
the information for their own organization's newsletter
- 62% use it for their Health and Safety Committee
- 55% have used it occasionally or frequently to develop their own policies
and procedures
- 72% share the report with 3 or more people
Some of the topics recently covered include:
- Balancing hurried families and the changing workplace
- Let there be (proper) light
- West Nile Virus
- Partnering to work safe in Saskatchewan
- Hazard Alerts
Subscriptions to this free service can be submitted
to: http://www.ccohs.ca/resources/communications/mailinglists/enews.html. CCOHS has over 4,500 subscriptions to this service and continues
to grow at a significant rate each quarter.
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Performance Indicator: World wide recognition as a leading contributor to the advancement of occupational health and safety
As the national occupational health and safety information repository, CCOHS encourages and supports exchanges of information with leading international health and safety centres throughout the world. This includes our role as a National Centre of the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centres, International Labour Organization. International databases are maintained and made available to Canadians. CCOHS developed and hosts a portal on the World Wide Web in which the "National Centers" and "Collaborating Centres" of the ILOs Centre international d'informations de sécurité et de santé au travail (CIS) have their own pages, links to their institutional Websites and other reliable websites in their respective countries. To encourage international collaboration, a discussion group is also part of this service.
CCOHS creates information and distributes 60 databases. A summary of these products is shown on our website http://www.ccohs.ca/products/subject.html. Through arrangements with many international organizations, CCOHS obtains the latest global health and safety information to share with Canadians.
The recognition of CCOHS as a world leader in the advancement in occupational health and safety is demonstrated by partnerships with world organizations. For example, CCOHS is responsible for the production of IPCS Intox, which is the World Health Organizations (WHO) International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). More than 100 experts from 75 countries are involved in the project. The aim is to improve the ability of countries to deal with emergencies arising from toxic exposure. Another project is the INCHEM, also produced through co-operation with WHO. This information is essential for the sound management of chemicals affecting the environment and human health.
Another example is the enhancement of occupational health and safety in Brazilian Industry. CCOHS is a member of a consortium of Canadian public and private sector organizations forming a Brazilian Canadian partnership to address occupational health and safety needs within selected industrial sectors in small and medium sized enterprises in Brazil.
Performance Indicator: level of satisfaction/confidence by labour, business and all levels of government in the quality and impartiality of the Centre
The tripartite Council of Governors, composed from representatives of labour, business and governments, assures the unbiased and relevant nature of CCOHS services. Council meets three times a year to review operational plans and provides input from its constituents. The satisfaction of the stakeholders can be demonstrated by the many collaborative projects completed throughout Canada. Details are available in our annual report http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html.
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The quality of the Centres products as measured in an independent evaluation study rates the over all satisfaction as follows for percentage very or fairly satisfied:
|
Product |
Usefulness |
Clarity |
Scientific Validity |
Reliability of
Information |
All products |
84% |
88% |
83% |
87% |
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ThIn 2004, CCOHS had an independent client satisfaction survey completed to measure the satisfaction with services and products, in keeping with the Common Measurement Tool and Citizen's First Research. The purpose is to identify satisfaction with various product /service attributes and compare to the importance of these attributes. This can be used as a baseline for future client satisfaction research. Overall, performance scores are high and are summarized below.
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The support of various levels of government and industry can be demonstrated
by various collaborative projects lead by CCOHS during the year. Some
of the initiatives include:
- Ontario Ministry of Labour: Occupational Exposure Limits Guide for Small Business. The publication will explain the basic occupational regulations regarding hazardous materials and provide practical information on control measures that can be utilized by small business to reduce the number of workplace injuries and illness.
- National Young Worker Web Site: In collaboration with the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation (CAALL) this web portal was designed to help prevent injuries and illnesses on the job by assisting young workers to find relevant information. It provides one point of access to information from all Canadian jurisdictions on young workers OSH issues, for young workers, teachers and parents. The site can be viewed at www.jobsafecanada.ca.
- Canadian Health Network: Workplace Health Affiliate http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text59.html
- Transport Canada: Security and Emergency Preparedness Bookshelf CD-ROM. Contains information about pertinent legislation, equipment, guidelines etc.
- Canadian Agricultural Safety Association: assisted in a cross-country consultation to determine current knowledge and attitudes regarding health and safety in the agricultural industry in Canada.
- Alternative Products Database for Public Works and Government Services Canada: to assist with choosing products that are effective, but less hazardous.
- Customized courses for private companies and government organizations
- Presentations and representations at various conferences and events for labour, business and government throughout Canada.
Information about these and other collaborative projects is included in our annual report. The continued support of government, business, and all levels of government is a strong indicator of satisfaction with CCOHS.
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Performance Indicator: Recognition of Occupational Health and Safety in Educational Institutions
Academic Support Package
In order to increase the knowledge of youth as future workers and future leaders in industry, the Academic Support Package was developed. The CCOHS Academic Support Program (ASP) is offered exclusively to universities and colleges as both a tool to educate students about environmental and occupational health and safety and as a guide to assist Universities and Colleges in their efforts to achieve a safe and healthy working environment. In the ASP program there are 96 universities and colleges, many of them very prominent, serving over 3 million students, faculty and staff.
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- Health and safety in the workplace is being promoted through the education
system by making CCOHS information available to students and
faculty through the Academic Support Package.
- The databases were made available to over 3 million students and faculty in 2003-2004
- Over 96 post secondary institutions participate
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- "We make available several key products and research guides to develop our students' knowledge and skills about environmental and occupational health and safety... One of the most popular is OSHLINET with NIOSHTIC"
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- Canadian statistics show that one in seven young workers is injured on the job. Leading causes of death among young people include machine injuries and electrocutions.
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Since youth are at a high risk of accidents in the workplace, this information will help to provide technical data and increase awareness of the wealth of resources available.
CCOHS also established an occupational health and safety scholarship fund in the memory of Dick Martin, a pioneer of workplace health and safety in Canada. Information about the program and the winners for 2004 is posted at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/releases/DMSA_2003Winners_7May04.html It is funded through private donations. This program is promoted to 26 post secondary schools across Canada, and provides monetary awards to students studying occupational health and safety.
C. Key Reviews
During the period of this report, there was one review of client satisfaction and a web survey. All reports, evaluations and reviews can be accessed at: http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html.
D. Modern Comptrollership
CCOHS completed its Modern Comptrollership Capacity Assessment. The complete report is available at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html. The modern comptrollership initiative is an opportunity to identify elements of comptrollership that could be improved at CCOHS. The ratings were reflective of CCOHS as a young organization (under 25 years) and one that has had limited ability to progress as an institution because of the serious financial difficulties experienced during the past decade. The additional funding received recently has resolved the past financial problems.
CCOHS has been working on the action plan during 2003-4. During this fiscal year, CCOHS successfully completed a customer satisfaction survey and web survey, training on performance measurement and integrated risk management. Also, ethics and values policies were completed. CCOHS is committed to the principles of the modern comptrollership initiative and is continuing to enhance its performance in the key performance elements.
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Section III. Consolidated Reporting
Listing of Statutory and Departmental Reports
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Council
of Governors' Annual Report to Parliament 2003-04.
- Report on Plans and Priorities 2003-04
- Program Evaluation and Cost Recovery Study 2001
- Modern Comptrollership Capacity Assessment 2002
- Customer Satisfaction Research Report 2004
These items are available at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html
Section IV. Financial Performance
Financial Performance Overview
Revenues from sales of products and services were slightly lower than last year, due to a general decline in sales, foreign exchange fluctuations, sales to government clients and the increased cost in keeping pace with technology. Appropriations were consistent with prior years.
CCOHS continues to generate approximately 50% of its budget from the sale of products and services. Expenditures are consistent with prior years. However, additional one-time expenditures were incurred relating to the move to a new location on August 8, 2003. CCOHS carefully monitors its expenditures and adjusts for changes in revenues as required.
One time funding for various modern comptrollership projects was received during the year. The audited financial statements are available in Section VI, Part C.
Financial Summary Tables
The following tables are applicable to CCOHS:
Table 1: Summary of Voted Appropriations
Table 2: Comparison of Total Planned to Actual
Spending
Table 3: Historical Comparison of Total Planned
Spending to Actual Spending
Table 4: Respendable Revenues
Table 5: Contingent Liabilities
Table 6: Other Information: Summary of
Revenue, Expenses and Appropriations
Table 7: Other Information: User Fees
|
Table 1
Summary of Voted Appropriations
Authorities for 2003-04 Part II of the Estimates
Financial
Requirements by Authority ($ millions) |
|
2003-04 |
Vote |
Planned Spending |
Total Authorities |
Actual |
Vote 20 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
Supplementary Estimates (A) |
- |
- |
- |
Supplementary Estimates (B) |
|
0.1 |
0.1 |
Adjustments and transfers |
|
0.1 |
0.1 |
Total Department |
4.0 |
4.2 |
4.0 |
|
Additional funding was received during the year for the modern comptrollership initiatives relating to training and a customer survey. In addition, amounts were received for vote 5 and roll over provisions.
|
Table 2
Comparison of Total Planned Spending to Actual Spending 2003-04 ($ millions)
Business Line |
FTE |
Operating |
Capital |
Grants and Contributions |
Total Gross Expenditures |
Less: Respendable Revenues |
Total Net Expenditures |
|
CCOHS |
87 |
8.3 |
- |
- |
8.3 |
4.3 |
4.0 |
Total Authorities |
87 |
8.5
|
- |
- |
8.5 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
Actuals |
87 |
7.8 |
- |
- |
7.8 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
Other Revenues and Expenditures |
Other Non-respendable Revenues |
- |
Total Authorities |
- |
Actuals |
- |
Cost of services provided by other departments |
0.7 |
Total Authorities |
0.7 |
Actuals |
0.7 |
Net cost of the Program |
4.7 |
Total Authorities |
4.9 |
Actuals |
4.7 |
|
Expenditures were lower due to declines in revenues. Revenue estimates are generally high and are only estimates. Expenditures relating to revenue generation are lower when revenues decline. The cost of services provided by other departments represents accommodation services provided by PWGS and audit services provided by the OAG. |
Table 3
Historical Comparison of Total Planned to Actual Spending ($ millions)
|
|
| | |
2003-04 |
Business Line |
Actual
2001-02 |
Actual
2002-03 |
Planned Spending |
Total Authorities |
Actual |
CCOHS |
3,2
|
4,1
|
4,0
|
4,2 |
4,0 |
Total |
3,2 |
4,1
|
4,0 |
4,2 |
4,0
|
|
|
Table 4
Respendable Revenues ($ millions)
| | |
2003-04 |
Business Line |
Actual
2001-02 |
Actual
2002-03 |
Planned Spending |
Total Authorities |
Actual |
|
CCOHS |
4.4 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
3.8 |
Total Respendable Revenues |
4.4 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
3.8 |
|
Respendable revenues represent monies generated from the sale of goods and services. CCOHS generates approximately 50% of its operating budget from its cost-recovery activities. Sales of goods and services are impacted by general market conditions, foreign exchange fluctuations, government budgets, changes in technology, and competition. |
|
|
Table 5
Contingent Liabilities
Claims and Pending and Threatened Litigation:
As
of March 31, 2004, there were no outstanding contingent liabilities against the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety |
|
Other Liabilities: |
|
Vacation Pay |
$
336,364 |
|
Employee
Termination Benefits |
$
652,862 |
|
Total |
$ 989,226 |
|
|
|
|
Vacation Leave: |
|
Employees are permitted to accumulate unused vacation leave from year to year to a maximum of 30 days. These costs are recognized only when paid. |
|
Employee Termination Benefits: |
|
Employee termination benefits are calculated for all employees on the basis of two weeks pay for the first complete year of continuous employment and one-week pay for each additional complete year of continuous employment. These costs are recognized only when paid.
|
|
Sick Leave: |
|
Employees are permitted to accumulate unused sick leave. However, such sick leave entitlements do not vest and can be used only in the event of illness. The amount of accumulated sick leave entitlements, which will become payable in future years cannot reasonably be determined and accordingly have not been recorded in the information provided. Payments of sick leave are included in current operations as incurred.
|
|
Pension Plan: |
|
Employees participate in the Public Service Superannuation Plan administered by the Government of Canada. The employees and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety contribute to the cost of the Plan. The Centres contributions are charged to expenditure on a current basis and represent the total liability of the Centre. |
|
|
|
Table 6 - Other Information (applicable only for CCOHS)
|
|
Summary of Revenue, Expenses and Appropriations |
| Actual |
($000s) | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
Revenues | 3,671 |
3,984 |
4,649 |
4,373 |
4,226 |
4,239 |
4,086 |
4,328 |
4,485 |
4,185 |
3,910 |
Expenses |
6,
915 |
6,532 |
6,575 |
6,340 |
6,399 |
6,578 |
7,044 |
6,688 |
7,589 |
8,275 |
7,806 |
Appropriations |
3,244 |
2,548 |
1,926 |
1,967 |
2,222 |
2,359 |
3,043 |
2,400 |
3,276 |
4,156 | 4,173 |
|
|
Table 7 - Other Information: User Fees |
User Fee |
Fee Type |
Fee Setting Authority |
Date: Last Modified |
Suscriptions- CCINO disc |
(O) |
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act for all user fees |
1997-1998 |
Subscription Specialty Products |
(O) |
|
1997-1998 |
CCINFOWEB |
(O) |
|
1997-1998 |
Specialty products - web |
(O) |
|
1997-1998 |
Publications |
(O) |
|
1995 |
Miscellaneous |
(O) |
|
N/A |
Collaborative Projects |
(O) |
|
N/A |
CCOHS Corporate Reports for further details on products and CCOHS in the annual report |
|
|
|
| 2003-04 |
User Fee | Forecast Revenue ($000) | Actual Revenue ($000) | Full Cost ($000) | Performance Standard | Performance Results |
Suscriptions- CCINO disc |
Indicate the projected revenue for 2003-04 in $000 |
653 046 |
824 821 |
Baseline study Customer Satisfaction Research measured client expectations
http://www.ccohs.ca/
|
Outlined in detail in Customer Satisfaction Research |
Subscription Specialty Products |
|
273 118 |
204 384 |
As above |
As above |
CCINFOWEB |
|
672 980 |
824 821 |
As above |
As above |
Specialty products - web |
|
516 418 |
260 126 |
As above |
As above |
Publications |
|
111 478 |
119 690 |
As above |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
15 350 |
0 |
Not applicable/not usual cost recovery fees |
Not applicable/not usual cost recovery fees |
Collaborative Projects |
|
615 576 |
514 812 |
Specific objectives as outline in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the client |
Payment made based upon deliverables in MOU |
CCOHS Corporate Reports for further details on products and CCOHS in the annual report |
Sub-Total (R)
Sub-total (O)
Total
|
Sub-Total $0 (R)
Sub-total (O) 2,857,966
Total 2,575,966
|
Sub-Total (R) $0
Sub-total (O) $2748,654
Total $2748,654
|
|
|
| Planning Years |
User Fee | Fiscal Year |
Forecast Revenue ($000) |
Estimated Full Cost ($000) |
Suscriptions- CCINO disc |
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007 |
650 000
650 000
650 000 |
825 000
825 000
825 000 |
Subscription Specialty Products |
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007 |
275 000
275 000
275 000 |
205 000
205 000
205 000 |
CCINFOWEB |
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007 |
673 000
673 000
673 000 |
825 000
825 000
825 000 |
Specialty products - web |
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007 |
517 000
517 000
517 000 |
261 000
261 000
261 000 |
Publications |
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007 |
135 000
135 000
135 000 |
120 000
120 000
120 000 |
Miscellaneous |
0 |
|
|
Collaborative Projects |
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007 |
620 000
620 000
620,000 |
515 000
515 000
515 000 |
CCOHS Corporate Reports for further details on products and CCOHS in the annual report |
2004-05 Sub-total:
2005-06 Sub-total: 2006-07 Sub-total: |
2 870 000
2 870 000
2 870 000 |
2 751 000
2 751 000
2 751 000 |
|
|
Section V: Departmental Overview
Mandate, Vision and Mission:The Canadian
Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) was created
in1978 by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and
Safety Act (R. S., 1985, c. C-13) which mandates the Centre
to promote the fundamental right of Canadians to a healthy and
safe working environment.
CCOHS is Canada's national resource for occupational health and safety information. It serves to promote health and safety in the workplace, to help establish high standards for occupational health and safety, and to foster consultation and co-operation among governments, labour and employers to reduce or eliminate occupational hazards.
The vision is for CCOHS to become the preferred occupational health and safety information resource centre that will enable Canadians to easily acquire high quality services.
CCOHS is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of
Human Resources and Skills Development. It is a departmental
corporation under Schedule II of the Financial Administration
Act.
Objectives
To provide Canadians with information about occupational health and safety which is trustworthy, comprehensive, and intelligible. The information facilitates responsible decision-making, promotes changes in the workplace, increase awareness of the need for a healthy and safe working environment, and supports education and training.
Strategic Priorities
CCOHS is governed and directed by a tripartite Council of Governors comprised of members from labour, business and government leaders representing their respective constituents across Canada. The Council meets three times a year to review policy and monitor progress of CCOHS. In January 1997, the Council adopted the following set of guiding principles for the Centre's future, which have been supported by federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for occupational health and safety:
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act allows the
Centre to undertake a broad range of activities "to promote
the fundamental right of Canadians to a healthy and safe working
environment".
The Council of Governors intends these principles to guide the Centre for the short to mid term and to allow for continued growth in cost-recovery. |
|
|
- The Council reconfirms its support and commitment
to the CCOHS and the valuable role the Centre provides to Canadian
workers and employers. Further,
the Council recognizes the importance of its tripartite nature
in governing the Centre.
The Centre is
to continue to serve as a source of excellence for unbiased
technical information and expertise to support labour, employers,
and governments in maintaining safe and healthy workplaces.
The Centre is
to continue to provide critical analysis and interpretation
of occupational safety and health information.
Further, the
three caucuses recognize the critical importance of maintaining
a free inquiry service to support the right of working Canadians
to a healthy and safe working environment.
- The Council
and the Centre shall communicate to respective Ministers regarding
the excellence and role of the Centre in order to obtain broad
public policy support and guidance.
- The Council recognizes the high standard and non-partisan nature of the Centre's undertakings. It recommends the Centre continue in its consulting and research
efforts, while meeting the test of fairness in a competitive
world. Joint funding of projects that target key areas
of information needs should be a special focus of these efforts.
The Council urges all governments and other organizations to consider the
Centre as a potential source of consulting and research services.
- The Council urges governmental and non-governmental
organizations, including labour and employers, to work in partnership
with the Centre to provide public access to the Centre's CD-ROM,
Internet and other services.
- The Council recommends the Centre consider
the future possibility of gathering and disseminating occupational
health and safety statistical information.
- The Council recognizes that the Centre has become
a national repository for MSDS, and efforts to encourage companies
to continue to supply data sheets to the Centre will continue,
where practicable and feasible.
- The Council recommends
that health and safety materials be available in the form most
useful to the user, including hard copy.
- The Council encourages the development of partnerships, tailored
to specific jurisdictions, that enhance the visibility and distribution
of CCOHS information. This
could also include co-operation between various government inquiry
services.
- The Council recommends that jurisdictions and others
systematically provide all technical, research, guidelines,
codes of practice, and best practices to the Centre.
|
|
|
The President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) and CCOHS staff
are committed to following these principles and plan to fulfil
the Council's strategic priorities for the Centre by ensuring
CCOHS provides:
A. a confidential occupational
health and safety inquiries service to Canadians;
B. economical fee-for-service
occupational health and safety products and services which are delivered by various means, including:
- Compact Disc - Read
Only Memory (CD-ROM)
- Digital Video Discs
(DVD)
- accessible computerized
information services
- publications and
guides
- training
- memberships;
C. non-biased occupational
health and safety information;
D. a national occupational
health and safety collaborating centre for the 14 Canadian jurisdictions
and serving as CanadaÌs representative as an international centre
(i.e. World Health Organization, International Occupational
Safety and Health Information Centre);
E. a national occupational health and safety information repository.
|
|
|
Business and Service Line and Organization Composition
Business Line: CCOHS is Canadas national institute, which promotes the fundamental right of Canadians to a healthy, and safe working environment. The Centre is independent from other federal and provincial departments and maintains a tripartite (labour, business, and government) governing council to help ensure that intelligible, unbiased information, studies and analyses are delivered to Canadians and their workplaces. Information is provided to clients via a toll-free telephone-based inquiries service or on a fee-for-service basis using the latest print and electronic technology. Information is gathered from numerous Canadian and international health and safety institutions and thereby provides Canadians with the most comprehensive, current, and reliable information. This collection of information is analysed and reorganized as products, services and solutions for distribution across Canada and to more than 60 countries.
Organizational Structure: CCOHS reports to the federal
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. The Council
of Governors are non-paid positions and hold their respective
offices throughout Canada. The Chair of the Council is a non-paid
position, which is currently occupied by the federal Assistant
Deputy Minister, Labour. The President and Chief Executive Officer
operates CCOHS from Hamilton, Ontario. CCOHS links its objectives
and strategic priorities through an array of service lines.
Governance:
The Centre is governed by a tripartite Council of Governors consisting of a Chair and Governors representing employers, labour, and Canadian governments (federal, provincial, and territorial). Four Governors represent workers; four represent employers, and up to thirteen represent provincial and territorial governments. The Chair represents the federal government. All are appointed by the Governor General -in- Council. The Council meets three times a year to discuss policy direction, priorities, review progress and approve guidelines.
Executive Management: The Centre is managed by its President and Chief Executive Officer who directs the work of CCOHS and ensures that occupational health and safety information products and services are provided to Canadians in a usable, widely accessible form and promoted to assist Canadians by informing them of their fundamental right to a healthy and safe working environment.
Service Lines: Corporate management provides the direction and management of operations at CCOHS. This includes finance, facilities, human resources and collaborative arrangements with partners.
The Inquiries Service is a free national
service available to Canadians to provide responses to their
questions on topics related to occupational health and safety.
Health and Safety Products and Services provide health and safety products and services to businesses, labour organizations, governments and health and safety professionals.
Computer Systems and Services provide the technical structure and support services for the production and promotion of the products developed.
Marketing, Sales and Communications provide the promotion, communications and customer service for the products and services available from CCOHS.
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Section VI: Supplementary Information
A. Contacts for Further Information
For further information about this
document or any of the products and services available from
the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety please
contact:
CCOHS
135 Hunter Street East
Hamilton ON L8N 1M5
Tel: 905-572-2981
1-800-668-4284 Canada and US
Fax: 905-572-2206
www.ccohs.ca
- S Len Hong
President and Chief Executive Officer
905-572-2981, ext 4433
hongl@ccohs.ca
- P K Abeytunga
Vice-President and Director General
905-572-2981, ext 4537
abey@ccohs.ca
- Bonnie Easterbrook
Controller
905-572-2981, ext 4401
bonniee@ccohs.ca
- Anne Gravereaux
Manager, Health and Safety Products and Services
905-572-2981, ext 4487
anneg@ccohs.ca
- Roger Cockerline
Manager, Inquiries Service
905-572-2981, ext 4523
rogerc@ccohs.ca
- Eleanor Irwin
Manager, Sales, Marketing and Communications
905-572-2981, ext 4408
eleanori@ccohs.ca
- David Brophy
Manager, Computer Systems and Services
905-572-2981, ext 4498
davidb@ccohs.ca
- Louise Henderson
Manager, Human Resources
905-572-2981, ext 4404
louiseh@ccohs.ca
B. Legislation Administered by
Name of Department
The federal Minister of Labour
has sole responsibility to Parliament for the following Acts
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act R.S.,
1985, c. C-13
C. Audited Financial Statements
D. Listing of Statutory and Departmental Reports
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Council
of Governors Annual Report to Parliament 2002-03.
- Report on Plans and Priorities 2002-03
These items are available at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html
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