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Communiqué

Safety Matters, On and Off the Job

The new light at McClean Lake lets employees know how they are doing with their commitment to the environment, health and safety.

For AREVA Resources, occupational safety is an ongoing concern that applies to both employees and contractors. But safety does not end when you leave the office, mine or mill.

“In Canada, off-the-job incidents account for at least twice the number of on the job injuries,” says Brian Bjorndal, manager of safety and radiation. The numbers are even higher in Saskatchewan, which has the highest off-the-job injury rate in the country.

“It seems that people accept injuries as a fact of life, and they’re not. Injuries are preventable. We want to get people thinking about that. We want to create a stronger safety mentality among employees, whether they are at home or work.”

So how do you build a safety mentality? For Bjorndal and his team, step one is rolling out a new program to increase awareness about the importance of off-the-job safety. While the shape of the program is still being finalized, it will build on AREVA’s 5-point safety system, safety huddles and special promotions such as give-aways of safety glasses or smoke detectors. “Safety has to be part of the way you think. If you are not safety conscious at home, it’s tough to be safety conscious when you get off the plane at work. You can’t just flip a switch. So we are developing a program to extend safety practices beyond the site.”

Initiatives range from raising awareness of the benefits of installing smoke, CO₂ and radon detectors at home, to using protective equipment like goggles when handling power equipment, to wearing a helmet when riding snowmobiles or all terrain vehicles.

Another example is lock-out procedures. These are critical on the job, but they can also be applied off the job. Whether you are working with farm equipment or using power tools for home, yard or vehicle repairs, ensuring equipment is properly de-energized can avoid serious, even life-threatening, injuries.

The need for better awareness is clear. According to U.S. statistics, nine out of 10 unintentional injury deaths and two-thirds of disabling injuries occur off the job. In addition to avoiding the human costs, there are economic benefits to safety. Every $1 spent on smoke alarms saves $69, every $1 spent on child safety seats saves $32 and every $1 spent on bicycle helmets saves $29. It’s something to think about, especially considering off-the-job injuries are up to eight times more costly than on-the-job injuries.