SOCI2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Human Factors And Ergonomics
Prospects for Change…
• Joint approaches?
• some evidence of success with training programs developed with needs of both workers and
employers in mind (J&T, pp. 55-56)
• Changes in government policies?
• Bridging mechanisms for unemployed workers, those in transition.
• Follow Quebec's lead: require % of payroll to be invested in training (J&T, p. 61)
• Gov't/employer support for initiatives that address problem of low skill/low pay/low
productivity jobs.
• Efforts to raise average level of skills of working population.
• Translating minimum wage increases into higher productivity jobs.
• Programs leading lower-skilled/lower paid workers to better jobs (e.g., HWTC in Toronto
(J&T, pp. 63-65), The Learning Exchange in Saint John).
February 8th, 2018
Workplace health and safety
Workplace health and safety areas of concern:
-working with safe machinery
-being taught how to do the job safely
-having proper safety equipment
-physical features of work environment (temperature, noise, mold, vibrating tools,
repeated finger stress)
-biological, chemical and material hazards
-ergonomics
-violence
-stress
-lifestyle
Workplace fatalities:
-In Canada, 1993-2014: 19860 people lost their lives due to work-related causes
(average of approx. 903/year)
-in New Brunswick, low of 7 work-related fatalities in 2003, 13 in 2014, new high of 19 in
2015
Workplace time-loss injuries:
-the number of reported workplace time-loss injuries is at a steady decline in Canada,
from just below 350000 in 2003 to approx. 230000 in 2015
-the number of reported cases in New Brunswick is also declining but not as steadily
More stats:
Document Summary
Joint approaches? some evidence of success with training programs developed with needs of both workers and employers in mind (j&t, pp. Being taught how to do the job safely. Physical features of work environment (temperature, noise, mold, vibrating tools, repeated finger stress) In canada, 1993-2014: 19860 people lost their lives due to work-related causes (average of approx. In new brunswick, low of 7 work-related fatalities in 2003, 13 in 2014, new high of 19 in. The number of reported workplace time-loss injuries is at a steady decline in canada, from just below 350000 in 2003 to approx. The number of reported cases in new brunswick is also declining but not as steadily.
