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WORKPLACENL ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2018
Message from the CEO I am encouraged to see employers, workers, labour, industry, safety organizations, training providers and government continue to collaboratively build a strong safety culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a result, the lost-time injury rate is at 1.6, contributing to a lower average assessment rate for employers in 2018. I am also pleased to announce the start of a multi-year initiative to introduce more digital services to employers, workers and our staff. Over time, we will reduce the amount of mail, faxes and paper required to interact with WorkplaceNL. Unfortunately, there was a sharp increase in the number of fatality claims in 2018 due to occupational disease, with approximately two-thirds of those from the mining industry. These tragedies relate to exposures to harmful substances that happened many years ago, most notably in the 1950s-1980s. Safe work practices, regulations and certification training have since improved, and our provincial workplace injury prevention strategy, Advancing a Strong Safety Culture in Newfoundland and Labrador (2018-2022), continues to focus on preventing known occupational diseases.
We understand the physical, emotional and financial impacts that workplace injury and illness can have on a worker, their family, their co-workers, their employers and their community. That is why WorkplaceNL’s new Workplace Injuries Hurt the Most at Home campaign connects workers and employers with emotional reasons outside of work that motivate them to make safety at work a priority. We want to inspire everyone to take responsibility for workplace safety, and to continue to work together to build a strong safety culture. If an injury occurs, we remain committed to ensuring workers receive the benefits to which they are entitled and to help their safe return to work. I look forward to working with all stakeholders in the provincial workplace health, safety and compensation system to prevent injury and illness, and serving our injured worker and employer clients.
Dennis Hogan CEO, WorkplaceNL
