• Bernard Kenny
• Laure-Elise Forel

Bernard Kenny, College of the North Atlantic, 2012-2013 College Winner

I am a graduate of Memorial University's Business Administration Program in Newfoundland. After university, I studied micro-computer applications at our provincial technical college (College of the North Atlantic-CNA). I have also studied financial planning and investment management through the Canadian Securities Institute. Since March 2011, I have been enrolled in CNA's OHS program here in Corner Brook. I have never worked in the field of OHS but with the prevalence of safety in the workplace today, I am hoping to secure a position.

I chose to study OHS because I was looking for new opportunities in the workplace. I had never received any formal OHS education and with a new program starting at our provincial college I wanted to explore this opportunity and see where it would lead me.

It is interesting that you ask if I was inspired by a particular incident: In the 1980's I was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck by a flatbed on a highway in NL. The flatbed was carrying a wide load. We were the first vehicle to pass by it in the opposite direction from where it had departed. The accident left me with a serious eye injury and about a 25% permanent loss to my right eye. Had this flatbed not been carrying a wide load that December night, I would not have sustained my injury. Though I wasn't directly inspired by this accident to pursue formal studies of OHS, since that event I am always more aware of the importance of safety; particularly for all forms of vehicles on our highways.

After graduation, I would like to obtain a position in either the area of Workers' Compensation or as a Safety Advisor. I've always enjoyed helping people so a position helping injured workers is certainly an interest. Also, I would enjoy teaching/informing/explaining OHS matters so a position where workers need to be educated is another interesting avenue I would explore. I have gained a lot of knowledge of various issues in the field of OHS and would like the opportunity to inform people on the importance of being safe in various situations of work.

After becoming aware of this opportunity through a publication here in Newfoundland titled "Safework News" I knew that writing a paper on a topic of interest to me would be something I would enjoy. I enjoying researching topics and reading various articles in the field of OHS so the background work I knew that would have to be undertaken was appealing to me.

My decision was made as a result of two news stories that made national headlines within about a week of each other last Fall. First up was a story regarding the release of a study pertaining to work-life balance and how it affects people in the workplace. Secondly was the release of a survey from Ipsos Reid on depression in the workplace. At that point I knew this would be a relevant topic to research: Stress and depression in the workplace and its impact on workers' mental health.

I will use this money towards my education. I have yet to decide if I will focus my attention on a particular area of study in the field of OHS. There are so many different training courses to further one's professional credentials.

To win this award is very gratifying. I spent a considerable amount of time researching this paper. My goal was to find as much information that would be relevant. Through the editing process and fine tuning everything (including my bibliography) many hours were spent at the keyboard. To have my hard work recognized was just a great feeling!

I do hope it helps me move forward in my career. Together with the work I have put into my academics I think it shows to a potential employer the dedication that I have made to this field of study and the degree of importance I place on it.

The best advice I would give would be to choose a topic that is not only relevant to today's work environment but also is something that you would enjoy researching. I really enjoyed putting my paper together and I learnt a lot about relevant mental health issues in the workplace. Don't apply for this scholarship with the mindset "this is something I would rather not do". You need to want to research a topic and dedicate time and effort to give this scholarship some respect. Dick Martin was a pioneer in the field of OHS. You do not want to submit OK work. Strive for excellence.

OHS is everyone's responsibility. It is probably the most important factor to be given consideration by employers, managers, supervisors and workers in the workplace. Statistically, nearly 3 individuals die every day in Canada due to a workplace accident/industrial disease. We mourn the dead every year in the National Day of Mourning and the Steps for Life walk. Though the employer is ultimately responsible for ensuring safety, workers/supervisors/managers all play a vital role too. There is more to an organization than financial statements and improving the bottom line. We need only to remind ourselves of the tragedy in Bangladesh in the Spring of 2013 as to what happens when safety is not a priority.

Laure-Elise Forel, Universite de Montreal, 2012-2013 University Winner

Upon graduating in 2009, I worked as a chemist and since 2012, as an environmental engineer. It took me some time to find my way. Occupational health and safety has always been a part of my world because chemistry is a suitable field for raising awareness about it. Shortly after graduation, I faced reality and realized that in my field it was difficult to become an industrial hygienist. Knowing only the risks, mainly chemical in my case, was not enough to be effective and obtain results. I decided to specialize in this area after completing a directed study led by the Université de Montréal and I expect to obtain my Master's degree by the end of the year. As a requirement of graduation, I must complete an industrial work placement, which I am just beginning at the Seleine salt mine, in the Magdalen Islands, Quebec.

I always tended to analyze accidents that happened around me. For many, this would have led to a career in medicine or as a rescue worker. I was more interested in being able to anticipate tragic events and prevent them from reoccurring in the future. For example, I'm the person who makes sure that after a night of drinking, nobody drives home under the influence; or the one who looks after a lost child in a shopping centre. I always know all the emergency exits of a building etc.

My goal is to obtain the ROH certificate in early 2014, and in the meantime, start working without knowing where or in which specialty. I'm open to any opportunities available and particularly those that will allow me to travel and discover Canada. I've always dreamed of going to Canada's North. Ideally, I would like my industrial hygiene and environmental sciences skills to be put to good use.

Having to write a scientific essay outside of a school setting is a first for me; but I was ready to rise to the challenge. I was also motivated by the prestige and reward.

I am an amateur foodie. Great food is prepared with great products and we often have farmers to thank for this. To maintain diverse, quality products and some degree of food self-sufficiency, small-scale producers are essential. While there is no denying technological innovation; their work is still one of the most difficult, particularly because it is not rightly valued by our society. It is therefore essential to take action and support them to ensure they do not disappear for the sole benefit of agri-food giants.

What I eat already is a reflection of this concern. For example, I'm a member of the Slow Food Association but I would like to take more concrete action, ideally through my job. I hope that by writing about this subject I have made a first step towards this direction.

Take advantage of the great local products I can put on my plate! Have fun with food and have my roommates benefit from it.

It means that I'm not the only one who feels this is an important subject. I'm confident that I'll be able to one day work in agriculture, even if at present my specific involvement remains unclear.

Write about a subject that they care deeply about.

Occupational health and safety is ensuring a bright future. Until the worker is recognized as a core value in a company, above machines or finished products, industrial hygiene will remain essential.