My Mango Blog

Preventing falls means staying vigilant

2011-12-15T01:12:08Z

I appreciate the story that Linda shared with me about her fall. She is very fortunate that her injuries weren't worse and that she wasn't home alone at the time.

Falls, like Linda's, are actually more common than most people realize; yet many aren't aware of the impact of elder falls in Saskatchewan.

For instance, did you know…

$57 million (1998) in direct costs are spent on falls every year (when indexed to 2009 dollars it actually totals $70.9 million);

seniors’ falls result in close to 3,000 hospitalizations in Saskatchewan every year and are the leading cause for all injury hospitalizations in Saskatchewan;

70 per cent of falls occur in and around the home;

40 per cent of hospitalizations are hip fractures and eight per cent are repeat hospitalizations; 30 per cent of older adults who fracture their hips die within the first year post fracture and another 30 per cent are admitted to long term care or nursing homes;

18 per cent of all hospitalizations result in transfer to a geriatric centre or nursing home; and

6 per cent result of hospitalizations result in death.

The upside to all of this is that we can prevent falls and we aren't at the mercy of fate. There are little things everyone can do to contribute to a safer environment – but we must be vigilant.

Here's an information poster on risk factors that contribute to falls and ways to prevent a fall.

Please take some time to download it and give it a read. And if you find it worthwhile, perhaps you'll consider sharing it with someone you love.

"Please think of me when you are climbing"

2011-12-06T03:12:41Z

As CEO of Safe Saskatchewan, people often approach me to share their injury-related stories. Here's one experience that was emailed to me recently.

Dear Gord,

I had a fall in our basement last Wednesday. It was during a simple chore- washing a basement window. It has been one week since my fall and I am recovering but never-ever have I experienced such a shock to my body.

I am warning all my friends (when they call me and tell me their "falling stories") that they must never do what I did. In hindsight, I made one bad decision after another - and I shouldn't be surprised that I fell. Here's what happened:

Bad Decision #1: I didn't tell anyone that I was going to be climbing to wash the window. (I should have had someone spotting me).

Bad Decision #2: I climbed the ladder in my sock feet. (I should have had shoes on).

Bad Decision #3: The two-step ladder that I used has narrow steps that are enamel coated. (There was no rubber to help with grip).

Bad Decision #4: I used the two-step ladder to get to a worktable. Then I used the worktable to reach the basement window. (I should have used a ladder that could reach the window).

Bad Decision #5: When I climbed back down from the worktable I wasn't watching where I put my feet because I couldn't see. (Again, I should have used a ladder that was tall enough to reach the window).

All of these bad decisions led to my fall as I attempted to descend from the worktable to the two-step ladder. I'm not sure at this point whether I missed the step or slipped on the enamel, but somehow my foot went between the steps and I tumbled sideways onto the concrete floor, landed on my right hip, then my right shoulder blade, and then my head snapped back and smacked the floor.

Thankfully I didn't black out and my husband heard me fall and came to my aid immediately. We went to the emergency room and in the end the doctor didn't find any broken bones. I was sent home with medication and advised to rest so I could recover.

I was lucky. This story could have had a much worse ending.

I have learned my lesson but I hope others can learn from it too. We threw out our rickety old two-step ladder and are currently finding a suitable replacement. But I'm also telling my friends that a good Christmas present for anyone would be a safe stepping stool. After all, we know that everyone climbs at some point around the house.

Feel free to use this story if you wish. It was a lesson for me and I always tell my friends, "please think of me when you are climbing."

Regards,

Linda Morgan

Injury prevention takes commitment

2011-09-07T10:09:20Z

Every now and then I hear from Health and Safety Leadership Charter signatory organizations. Recently, I was forwarded a copy of Failure Prevention Services' (FPS) internal newsletter. FPS is a 2010 Charter signatory and they were also in attendance at our 2011 Charter event.

Based on the article below and my conversations with FPS it seems to me they are taking the Charter signing seriously and are finding lots of ways to show their commitment to the health and safety of their employees both on- and off-the-job.

Take a read and see for yourself. Click here to download the article.

I'm always looking for updates and more stories to share about the good work our Saskatchewan companies are leading. Please feel free to share!

Safety Leadership Following Charter Signing

2011-07-06T10:07:01Z

I received an email from the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (SWA), a Charter signatory organization, describing the steps they took internally following the signing of the Charter. I thought it was a nice example of safety leadership worth sharing with you.

The SWA's Charter is beautifully framed and prominently displayed in the main reception area in their Moose Jaw ead office. It represents their renewed commitment to ensuring the health and safety of its employees and the continual improvement of their Occupational Health and Safety Program. Replica copies will be presented to all their regional office locations at their next Occupational Health and Safety committee meeting where details of a comprehensive safety management system program and its implementation will be released.

I want to congratulate the SWA and its safety leaders for ensuring the Charter is properly represented in their organization.

Have a safe Saskatchewan summer!

The Last Text...

2011-06-22T03:06:55Z

While unwinding from our very successful Health and Safety leadership Charter event which was held last week in Saskatoon, I've been reflecting on its immediate outcomes and comments I received. (For more information on the event, visit the "What's New" section of our website.)

I received an email from a leader of a signatory organization who found the event very informative. I was encouraged by his comments that his organization was not only committed to do their best to ensure a safe workplace but they emphasized to all their employees to take the same approach to safety at home. This is the type of leadership Saskatchewan requires to make our province a safer place to work, live and play.

In attending a meeting last month, after the initial safety and fire exit explanation, the meeting organizers showed the following video and asked everyone in attendance to pass it on. It is an emotional story of the impacts of texting while driving. I found the video to be extremely relevant and effective.

I am passing it on to you. Take a few minutes to watch it and then pass it on to your friends, family and colleagues. It is well worth your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebhWD6ljZs

Stay safe.

How do we transform our provincial culture...

2011-03-03T11:03:53Z

How do we transform our provincial culture to a point where injury prevention is a core value and injuries are no longer accepted as part of everyday life in Saskatchewan? Is the ideal culture one of interdependence and if it is, how do we get there? My February 18, 2010 blog post was an attempt to answer these questions: http://blog.safesask.com/post.cfm/how-do-you-define-an-interdependent-culture

At the Saskatchewan Safety Council's, 38th Annual Industrial Safety Seminar, I heard Jim Spigener of BST Solutions (http://www.bstsolutions.com/en/about-bst/senior-leadership-team) speak about how organizational culture has emerged as a leading predictive indicator of safety performance. At the same seminar, I heard Jim Kellett, Senior Vice President, Operations and Engineering of the K-Line Group of Companies (www.K-Line.ca) (a Safe Saskatchewan Founding Partner and board member) speak about K-Line's journey towards reaching the desired culture, provide a demonstration of the value of safety leadership in their organization and allay how safety is incorporated into all aspects of their business.

In all that I've heard and read about lately, it seems organizational culture is directly related to and a reflection of the values, personality traits and characteristics of that organization's leader(s). So what are the characteristics of the individuals who lead organizations with the desired, interdependent culture? Kevin Mooney, Injury Prevention Manager with the Motor Safety Association (www.motorsafety.ca), an organization that's been conducting cultural assessment surveys for their members, provided me with the answer to that question. He read the book called "The Leadership Challenge" by Kouzes & Posner. Apparently Kouzes and Posner have done some intriguing research over the period of 25 years across the globe. Their research has involved over 75,000 people from many different countries, and they've identified characteristics of admired leaders. Their first research question was: "What values, personal traits, or characteristics do you look for and admire in a leader?" From the surveys, they identified 20 common universal leadership characteristics. The following top four leadership characteristics from their list of 20, have remained the most admired leadership characteristics: honest; forward-looking; inspiring; and competent.

In answer to the very first question I posed in today's blog: By supporting industry leaders and their organizations in reaching the desired culture, one leader and one organization at a time.

Now I've asked and answered quite a few questions here. I need your help in answering a couple more. Assuming the desired organizational culture is one of interdependence, and assuming leaders of organizations with interdependent cultures have the top four leadership characteristics as noted above, what are some examples or indicators of an organization with an interdependent culture? What are examples or indicators of an organization that has a long way to go to reach a desired, interdependent culture?

We Still Have a Way to Go

2011-02-22T08:02:45Z

The other day I received a telephone call from a media reporter who was doing a story on elder falls resulting from the slippery conditions of our roads and sidewalks. At first blush I was excited with the opportunity to tell her about the fact that 70% of falls to older adults that result in hospitalization, occur in and around the home and that these injuries are preventable. I was looking to speaking about the various fall prevention interventions I've become aware of and/or refer her to one of the many experts we have in the province, who work closely with elders in our community, to support them by providing resources and education that assist in preventing a fall.

To my dismay, the reporter was crafting a story about the best way for a person to get back up on their feet, once a fall has occurred.

While it is useful to know how to get back up on one's feet after a fall, the message injury prevention advocates preach is that falls (and other injury types) are predictable and preventable. This message needs to be adopted by all people in our province so that injuries are not an acceptable part of everyday life in Saskatchewan. We must work together to transform our provincial culture to the point where injury prevention is a core value with every individual, every organization and every community in Saskatchewan.

Safe Saskatchewan research, conducted through annual Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) shows that approximately 40% of those surveyed believe that more than 75% of injuries are preventable. This percentage has increased significantly from the 2007 CATI results, which showed that 30.4% of respondents believed that more than 75% of injuries are preventable. We are making gains but we still have a long way to go.

As for the story the reporter had called about? I understand and can appreciate her perspective. Her question is simply a reflection of the current state of our culture and an indicator of how far we have to go, on the journey to cultural transformation. I look forward to the day when a reporter asks me "What is the best way to prevent a fall on these slippery sidewalk and road conditions we are experiencing?"

Testing my Driver Distraction limits

2011-02-14T09:02:04Z

Last week I attended the Saskatchewan Safety Council's 38th annual Industrial Safety Seminar. It was a worthwhile experience, and it was wonderful being surrounded by safety conscious individuals!

I had an opportunity to join other local safety officials in driving golf carts through a course of pylons and road signs while attempting to complete various tasks like texting, changing songs on an iPod, reading a newspaper or making a grocery list. While we were driving, organizers drove remote control cars around us in an attempt to make it more life-like.

While I wasn't driving 3,000 pounds of glass and steel at 50 km per hour, the golf cart still had its challenges and I found it hard to focus on driving and searching for a song on an iPod. Quite simply, I couldn't do it. (To see a Leader Post video of the driver distraction course, click here.)

Did you know, one-third of the root cause of motor vehicle collisions resulting in an unintentional injury is driver distraction/inattention? In fact, according to a University of Calgary study conducted in 2007, it doesn't matter whether you're using a hand-held or hands-free cell phone, for instance, the hazard as measured in decreases to reaction time, are the same. In the case of texting, the risk increases exponentially. Of 330 deaths from unintentional injuries every year in our province, 150 (or so) are on our road system.

When I sit back and think about those numbers- they are almost unbelievable. What this information really says to me is that if I focus on driving alone, this will provide me with many opportunities to save a life. That is worth it for me... how about you?

Year in Review

2010-12-17T03:12:42Z

On behalf of myself, Safe Saskatchewan and the Safe Saskatchewan Board of Directors I'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. Some exciting developments have grown from the 2010-year and because of these new initiatives Safe Saskatchewan has been re-developing our future direction for 2011 and beyond.

In April of 2010, Safe Saskatchewan accepted a mission on behalf of Saskatchewan's injury prevention efforts. Our mission? Zero! With the support of WorkSafe Saskatchewan we introduced "Mission: Zero Live injury-free." at the Saskatoon Family Expo. The Mission: Zero movement now fully supports a holistic view of injury prevention - and Safe Saskatchewan is going to work to ensure we extend Mission: Zero in everything we do.

June of 2010 saw the first ever Health & Safety Leadership Charter event where over 130 organizations were represented by almost 200 leaders. The Charter supports the continuous improvement of healthy and safe workplaces and communities - so a commitment to the seven Charter principles is just the beginning. Together, we're going to make Saskatchewan the safest place in which to work, live, and play as we extend health and safety efforts beyond the workplace, and recognize and support safety initiatives within our communities. Efforts in 2011-2013 are being determined so we can help Charter signatories bring this Health & Safety Leadership Charter initiative to life.

Recently, a Safety Education Strategy Steering Committee was formed for the purpose of creating a provincial strategic framework that focuses on safety and injury prevention resources and supports for students in our K-12 Education System. When that time comes, the first phase of strategy implementation is expected to target children and youth at the elementary school level (kindergarten to grade five). Safe Saskatchewan will be communicating with all stakeholders on how this strategy's development process will unfold as it is integrated with the Comprehensive School Community Health Model.

Safe Saskatchewan also continues to help the Seniors' Falls Committee move the provincial Seniors' Falls Strategy forward. Key milestones have been a validation of the need to work together to prevent seniors' falls in our province. The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative recognized that seniors' fall prevention will have a direct and immediate positive impact by reducing the number of surgeries, decreasing surgical wait times and enhancing the client experience within the health care system. And in the Spring of 2010, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health acknowledged and supported the Strategy. The Ministry will lead the implementation of the falls prevention strategy starting in the long-term care setting, with an overall implementation plan expected to be completed very soon.

It's important to acknowledge how far Safe Saskatchewan has ventured in pursuit of our vision of a safe Saskatchewan. Thank you to our Board of Directors for their leadership and continued support.

Mr. Peter Federko, Chief Executive Officer, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board
Mr. Bruce Bondar, Vice President Engineering, Access Communications Cooperative Limited
Mr. Earl Cameron, Vice President Claims & Salvage, SGI
Mr. Lorne Cooper, Vice President Environmental Health and Safety, Mosaic Potash Colonsay
Mr. Bruce Hope, Regional Plant Manager, North America and Caribbean, Yara Belle Plaine Inc.
Mr. Jim Kellett, Senior Vice President Operations and Engineering, K-Line Maintenance and Construction Ltd
Mr. Mike Marsh, Vice President of Transmission & Distribution, SaskPower
Ms. Loretta Miiller, Director Human Resources and Safety, Sherritt Coal
Mr. Harley Toupin, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Safety Council

Check out the rest of our Safe Saskatchewan December 2010 newsletter and click here.

Have you heard of ICE?

2010-11-27T11:11:00Z

When emergency services personnel are on the scene of a crash or personal disaster, they sometimes struggle to locate next of kin for a victim who is unconscious, dead or unable to respond.

In response to this problem, some people started carrying a list of emergency contacts with vital medical details in their purses or wallets, or wore these details on engraved bracelets or necklaces.

In Case of Emergency or ICE is another option to help medical personnel reach your next of kin/medical history should you be a victim. The rationale is that we all carry our cell phones with names and numbers stored in our address book, however if a medical person was reading our address book, they would have no way of knowing who we want contacted should something happen to us. Hence the ICE campaign. In an emergency situation, emergency service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE." For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 and so forth.

According to Snoops, the ICE campaign originated in England. The trend must be catching on - I heard about ICE a little while ago and have it in my phone already. (To read more about the history, click here http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/icephone.asp.)

One of the initiatives of this campaign is to spread the word and let people know.

So I ask you- have you input your ICE contacts into your cell phone? It certainly can't hurt - and maybe it will help you one day when you can't speak for yourself.

National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims

2010-11-17T05:11:14Z

Our hearts go out to all those victims of injuries resulting from road collisions, and their families. Today is National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims: http://ccmta.ca/remember_souvenez-vous/home.php

According to SGI statistics, recent trends indicate there has been a yearly average of approximately 7,000 injuries and fatalities on our Saskatchewan Road System. While we have a long ways to go towards "Mission:Zero" on our roadways, while one injury and one fatality is one too many, and while we can in no way diminish the pain and suffering associated with preventable injuries, it should be recognized that the annual average of injuries and fatalities on Saskatchewan roads in the mid-1980's was closer to 9,000. This is a 22 per cent decrease. The trend in this 20-year period shows a steady decrease due in large part to collaborative provincial injury prevention efforts lead by our partner, SGI.

This does give us hope and is an indication of how important it is to continue to work together towards a vision of a safe Saskatchewan and towards Mission:Zero so that we can live injury-free!

Thought of the Day

2010-11-04T09:11:06Z

Saskatchewan weather has been pretty pleasant for November so far, but this got me thinking today. Sooner or later it will get very cold. And while we don't want it to be that way- a little preparation can go a long way.

On Wednesday, October 27th we were in the middle of a "weather bomb". According to one CBC report "Saskatoon police said Tuesday night they had received reports of dozens of accidents and were expecting more as temperatures fell. Regina had a similar number of crashes, with six accidents resulting in minor injuries."

It seems like every year's first snow fall wreaks havoc and people seem to forget how to drive safely. Does anyone else find this pattern as disturbing as I do? It's not like we don't expect to have cold, snow covered winters - this shouldn't be a surprise. We also shouldn't be surprised to learn that we need to prepare for driving during these cold winter months.

Today, the snow has melted. It's gone - but not for long.

Let's say for this next "first snow" (which is likely on its way soon) we all take the necessary precautions like taking the time to clear the frost off our windows, leaving early, driving speeds suitable for road conditions, and ensuring our vehicles are ready for the cold. Oh, and not using our (hand-held or hands-free) cell phones when we drive!

Yara Belle Plaine's Milestone

2010-10-04T11:10:40Z

I'd like to congratulate one of Safe Saskatchewan's Founding Partners, Yara Belle Plaine who recently achieved one million hours worked without a Lost Time injury (LTI). (To read the full "What's New" piece on safesask.com, click here.) Celebrating these moments and using them as examples for all industry to follow is an imperative step taken towards changing the injury prevention culture in this province for the better.

Yara has been undertaking many injury prevention initiatives and according to Yara's Safe Saskatchewan Advisory Committee member, the most powerful way safety has taken over the organization is through employee-driven programs. If empowering employees can be a large motivator for a company, what type of empowerment will it take for individuals in families and communities to look out for each other?

It seems like companies have many levers they can pull on to encourage employees to be safe - so what types of levers exist for Safe Saskatchewan to pull on to make our province safer and more injury-aware?

Star City Woman Wins Slogan Prize (Circa 1955)

2010-09-10T10:09:54Z

A friend of mine Dave Morgan, gave me an article from the Prince Albert Daily Herald, dated June, 1955. Dave's mother entered in a contest and won a prize for the best farm safety slogan in the Star City area. Her slogan: Safety Is At Our Fingertips. Take a few minutes to read the article as it is profound. Quotes by Mrs. Morgan within the article indicate a very insightful and concerned citizen. Even back in 1955, it seems farm injuries were a concern for her.

When I reviewed the latest farm injury statistics, we have an average of 17 - 18 deaths and about 250 hospitalizations every year from preventable injuries on Saskatchewan farms and ranches. It seems to me that the average farm injury rate in Saskatchewan has remained unchanged over the last 15 years. And today, preventable farm injuries cost the Saskatchewan economy about $42 million every year.

Basically, Saskatchewan farm families and the communities within which they reside continue to endure the human costs of pain and suffering that preventable injuries bring.

When comparing 1955 to today - at least for injuries on our farms and ranches - it seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.

When will we all follow Mrs. Morgan's example and take a stand on an issue that is, as Mrs. Morgan says, "timely and urgent"!

Click on the article on the left to see a pdf version of the article.

Do you wince like I do?

2010-08-30T01:08:56Z

Last night our family sat down to watch a little television --- actually we probably watch too much television --- and America's Funniest Videos (AFV) came on. It didn't take long for us to switch to another program after a reminder from both my wife and my son of how painful it is to watch this program. It seems our society goes to great lengths to poke fun at the misfortune of others. As far as AFV goes, many of the video clips show people doing stupid things that could (and probably do much of the time) result in an injury. Knowing what I know about the North American injury statistics and the worst-case scenario that an injury can bring, I found myself wincing at most of the video clips for the short time we tuned into AFV. Is this where we've come to as a society?

The other day, I received a PowerPoint presentation from a friend that was entitled "The Safety at Work Awards" displaying all sorts of odd, risk-taking workplace activities from around the world. For instance, one of the slides showed a man with a seat cushion on his head which apparently took the place of a hard hat. Another slide showed an image of a man welding, holding a piece of cardboard in front of his face to shield the sparks. Yet another showed a person with a plastic bag wrapped around his face to prevent him from inhaling toxic fumes from the activity he was engaged in.

Don't get me wrong --- I really can't be too critical. I used to enjoy shows like AFV and chuckle at images like the ones in the PowerPoint I received until I became educated as to the human and financial costs our unintentional injury epidemic. Now I see how far we've got to go to transform our culture to point where injury prevention is a core value and shows like AFV are no longer acceptable.