Latest news with #occupationalHealth
CBC
07-07-2025
- CBC
Irving Shipbuilding faces charges stemming from 2024 workplace death
Irving Shipbuilding is facing five occupational health and safety charges stemming from the February 2024 death of a worker during snow clearing at the company's large shipyard along Halifax harbour. The company was arraigned on the charges Monday in Halifax provincial court. Defence lawyer Stan MacDonald said it will take time for him to review the evidence gathered during the investigation. The case is scheduled to return to court in October. Jamie Knight died Feb. 19, 2024, after being hit at the Halifax Shipyard by a wheel loader, a tractor-like piece of equipment with a large bucket on the front. Two of the Occupational Health and Safety Act charges relate to Irving's alleged failure to have a safe-work plan for snow removal, or complete a risk assessment for hazards related to snow clearing. It's also alleged the company failed to ensure the wheel loader was used in accordance with manufacturer specifications, or designate a competent person as a signaller. The company is also accused of not doing a risk assessment for workers heading to and from a hut where they could smoke. More than 2,000 people work at Irving's Halifax Shipyard, which has been contracted since 2011 to build ships for the Royal Canadian Navy. An Irving Shipbuilding spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the charges.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Is Burnout Real? What The Scientific Debate Means For Your Company
Matches burning out My husband went to work this morning with a spring in his step. It was the first time in weeks. Why? Because our oldest son was laughing and joking at breakfast after weeks of poor sleep and bad moods. At work, my husband felt energetic. Quite a difference from the previous weeks, when he felt exhausted upon arrival at the office, and had the feeling work was piling up. My husband had been experiencing burnout symptoms, which include feeling exhausted, being negative about work, and lower efficiency. Burnout is acknowledged by the World Health Organization, which defines it in its International Classification of Diseases-11 as 'a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.' More than 50 years of research have been dedicated to understanding burnout. Now, it is being called into question. There are two camps – one consisting of psychologists and psychiatrists questioning the validity and need for the concept of burnout, and the other a group of occupational health researchers underscoring the relevance of burnout. Here are the key points, counterpoints, and takeaway messages that matter for #1: Does Work Cause Burnout? The first point adversaries of burnout make is that there is no convincing evidence that work factors primarily cause burnout. Advocates of burnout, however, maintain that the origin of burnout is the workplace. Understanding precisely what causes burnout is essential, as it can help us find more effective solutions to prevent it. In my husband's case, I wondered, what caused his burnout complaints? The last few weeks were marked by numerous tight submission deadlines. But it was nothing out of the ordinary for his line of work, and something he otherwise dealt with fine. The added family worries had made it difficult to cope with his work demands. This is not to say that work cannot be the sole cause of burnout. Many people work in dismal working conditions where work is the clear culprit of burnout complaints. However, it is essential to consider the overall burden placed on employees, both at work and at home. In a study published almost twenty years ago in Journal of Vocational Behavior, professors Tanja van der Lippe, Esther Kluwer, Henk Flap, and I found that employees with children under six years old were more likely to report burnout complaints than those with older children, even when controlling for work pressure and work hours. A meta-analysis published in Human Relations in 2014 confirms that work-family conflict, characterized by insufficient time or energy to perform both roles effectively, can lead to burnout. The fact that nonwork factors contribute to burnout does not mean that burnout is not work-related. Work demands, together with nonwork demands, might push someone over the edge. Exhausted employees more often call in sick, perform suboptimal, and have less energy to support colleagues properly. There is thus sufficient reason for organizations to support burned-out employees and ensure they have the necessary resources to recover and fully re-engage in their work. When searching for the right resources, however, it will be critical to understand where someone needs help: at work, at home, or both.(Dis)agreement #2: How Prevalent is Burnout? Opponents of burnout argue that burnout researchers exaggerate that burnout is a condition of epidemic magnitude. Proponents, however, also condemn the popular notion that burnout is rampant. As discussed by Professors Hans de Witte from Catholic University Leuven and Wilmar Schaufeli from Utrecht University, the solution lies in clearly differentiating between burnout complaints versus clinically diagnosed burnout. Burnout complaints indicate that an employee often feels exhausted, distances themselves from work, and perceives their accomplishments as lower. These feelings of work stress are, in fact, quite prevalent. A clinical form of burnout, diagnosed by a medical expert, where the employee is on leave for weeks or months, is relatively rare, and the trend appears to be stable. A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research suggests that fewer than four percent of German employees received a formal diagnosis of burnout, and this number remained stable between 2012 and 2022. When the media refers to burnout as epidemic, they essentially mean that more employees feel exhausted and cynical about work, which differs from what is suggested by the word burnout alone, namely, an employee who is sick at home. Disagreement #3: Is Burnout the Same as Depression? Challengers of burnout argue that it is unclear if burnout is different from depression. Professors Renzo Bianchi from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Irvan Sam Schonfeld from City University of New York vouch for retiring the term and instead viewing it as a subset of depressive symptoms. Burnout supporters, however, pinpoint apparent differences – depression is a mood disorder, primarily characterized by depressed mood and loss of interest and pleasure in activities. Professors De Witte and Schaufeli frame burnout as an energy disorder, primarily characterized by emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue. When asking Christaan Vinkers, Psychiatrist and Professor in Stress and Resilience at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, the Netherlands, if he sees a way out of this impasse, he responds, 'We need large-scale studies that examine the differences and similarities between burnout, depression, and anxiety. We don't know if burnout is truly different from depression, because work stressors can also cause depression, and burnout is not caused by work alone.' Vinkers calls for clinical studies that meticulously map the symptoms of employees who are so distressed that they can no longer perform their work. By focusing on this group, you can determine if there is a clear set of symptoms that belong to the diagnosis of burnout or if these symptoms are so similar to depression and anxiety that they should be categorized there. Vinkers also underscores the need to examine the underlying stress response in more detail. 'It might be even more important to shift focus to the dysregulation process. What causes someone to feel so overwhelmed by life that they can't function anymore? If we know what pushes people over the edge, we can better prevent and treat stress-related illness, regardless of what we call it.'Takeaways for Organizations While some may dismiss this debate as an academic squabble, it contains important lessons for practice. The following guidelines may help organizations. The proponents and opponents of burnout both made valid points. Part of the clash might be attributed to two disciplines using different lenses. A psychiatrist's job is to diagnose people correctly, and for that purpose, better diagnostic burnout tools are necessary. Occupational health psychologists focus on employees who might experience elevated stress at work but are not clinically ill. Both camps have essential roles to play, and these roles seem complementary rather than adversarial.
Associated Press
14-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
WSIB Workers Face More Than Double the National Rates of Anxiety and Depression, Survey Finds
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 14, 2025-- The union representing striking workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has conducted a follow-up survey to assess workload and occupational stress levels, one year after their initial study. The internationally recognized survey, conducted by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), an independent third party, shows that WSIB workers continue to report the worst results in over a decade compared to workplaces across Canada. When it comes to job-related anxiety and depression, WSIB employees experience levels that are double the national average. Preliminary findings from the updated survey indicate the situation has only deteriorated. 'The WSIB is a shining example of what not to be. We will hold the WSIB accountable for their failure to protect employee wellness,' said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU. 'I will not rest until we fix the very real and systemic workload problem. Once we do that, we will elevate services for all Ontario workers.' 'Our members are tired of hearing the employer deny their lived experiences, and it's really impacting them,' said Nicole Francis, Chief Steward for OCEU. 'The results of the survey from last year are crystal clear, but WSIB management doesn't want to accept them because it ruins the image they are trying to project.' John Oudyk, Occupational Hygienist with OHCOW, remains optimistic despite the worsening results. 'Most of the factors measured in the survey were quite negative, but the engagement scores were close to typical Canadian values. This suggests that, despite their negative experience, respondents have not completely disengaged, indicating they still have hope that their work situation can improve,' he said. Members of OCEU/CUPE 1750 have been on strike for over three weeks, after being sent home and locked out of their systems by the employer. Key bargaining issues remain, including dangerously high workloads that are severely impacting WSIB employees' mental health. mb/cope491 View source version on CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Bill Chalupiak CUPE Communications Representative [email protected] 416-707-1401 KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MENTAL HEALTH LABOR HEALTH PUBLIC POLICY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT SOURCE: Canadian Union of Public Employees Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/14/2025 10:58 AM/DISC: 06/14/2025 10:56 AM
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
WSIB Workers Face More Than Double the National Rates of Anxiety and Depression, Survey Finds
TORONTO, June 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The union representing striking workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has conducted a follow-up survey to assess workload and occupational stress levels, one year after their initial study. The internationally recognized survey, conducted by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), an independent third party, shows that WSIB workers continue to report the worst results in over a decade compared to workplaces across Canada. When it comes to job-related anxiety and depression, WSIB employees experience levels that are double the national average. Preliminary findings from the updated survey indicate the situation has only deteriorated. "The WSIB is a shining example of what not to be. We will hold the WSIB accountable for their failure to protect employee wellness," said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU. "I will not rest until we fix the very real and systemic workload problem. Once we do that, we will elevate services for all Ontario workers." "Our members are tired of hearing the employer deny their lived experiences, and it's really impacting them," said Nicole Francis, Chief Steward for OCEU. "The results of the survey from last year are crystal clear, but WSIB management doesn't want to accept them because it ruins the image they are trying to project." John Oudyk, Occupational Hygienist with OHCOW, remains optimistic despite the worsening results. "Most of the factors measured in the survey were quite negative, but the engagement scores were close to typical Canadian values. This suggests that, despite their negative experience, respondents have not completely disengaged, indicating they still have hope that their work situation can improve," he said. Members of OCEU/CUPE 1750 have been on strike for over three weeks, after being sent home and locked out of their systems by the employer. Key bargaining issues remain, including dangerously high workloads that are severely impacting WSIB employees' mental health. mb/cope491 View source version on Contacts For more information, please contact: Bill ChalupiakCUPE Communications Representativewchalupiak@ 416-707-1401
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
NIOSH wants tighter safety measures at construction sites after Bangsar incident
NIOSH chairman Chong Chieng Jen said preventive steps, such as perimeter fencing, security surveillance and clear warning signage, must be standard at all construction sites. KUALA LUMPUR : The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has urged for improved safety measures at construction sites following the discovery of a British traveller's body at a site in Bangsar recently. NIOSH chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the incident raised questions about how the public could access the area and called for a review of existing safety protocols. 'Construction sites are inherently high-risk and should not, under any circumstances, be accessible to the public,' he said in a statement today. On June 5, police confirmed that the body found the previous day at a construction site in Bangsar was that of the missing 25-year-old British national, last seen on May 27. Chong said Section 15 of the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Act (OSHA) 2022 spells out the duty of employers to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees at the workplace, while Section 17 emphasises the responsibility to safeguard others present at the site. 'Employers and self-employed individuals are also required, as far as reasonably practicable, to ensure that their operations do not pose safety or health risks to non-employees. 'They must also provide information on any hazards that could affect the safety or health of individuals present at the worksite,' the statement said. Chong reminded developers, contractors and all relevant parties to comply with the Act or risk being fined up to RM500,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. He said that preventive steps, such as effective perimeter fencing, adequate security surveillance, systematic access control, and clear warning signage, must be standard at all construction sites. 'Risk management at construction sites should not only focus on protecting workers, but also on ensuring the safety of the public, especially in densely populated urban areas frequented by tourists,' he said. In addition, NIOSH wants the occupational safety and health department and the Construction Industry Development Board to conduct an immediate and comprehensive investigation to identify any breach of standard operating procedures (SOPs) or provisions under OSHA. Chong added that NIOSH is ready to cooperate with authorities and the industry to promote a stronger safety culture through training, awareness programmes and a better understanding of the OSHA (Amendment) 2022.
