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Working at home safety tips from WorkSafeBC
Richmond, B.C., February 7, 2008 — Whether you are renovating or working at your desk in your home office, WorkSafeBC has safety information to share with you at the CHBA South Okanagan Home Show at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre from February 8–10.
“At the show our staff will be talking about and demonstrating how even a simple task such as lifting can lead to serious injury if performed incorrectly,” said Shawn Mitton, WorkSafeBC Regional Prevention Manager. “Whether you are at work or home, knowing how to use your equipment safely is a key factor in preventing injuries.”
WorkSafeBC booths 31 and 32 will feature a mock home office display showing how to correctly use lighting, footrests, document holders, chair height, hand rests and more. As well, a demonstration of ergonomically correct gardening tools such as kneepads, stools and gardening tool extensions will be available.
Sprains, strains and inflammation - referred to as musculoskeletal (MSI) injuries – may be caused or aggravated by work activities, and account for approximately 30 percent of all time-loss injuries to workers in British Columbia. In 1998 ergonomics requirements to minimize the risk of MSI in the workplace became part of WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
“I think it’s fair to say that if doing something a certain way at work can lead to injury, then using similar techniques with the same type of equipment at home can also lead to getting hurt,” added Mitton.
Other materials useful to homeowners, employers and workers available at the booths and also online at www.worksafebc.com include:
- how to make your home computer workstation work for you (PDF 2.4mb)
- “watch your back” pamphlets (PDF 695kb)
- ladder safety techniques (PDF 54kb)
- information on asbestos, including a graphic of where asbestos is commonly located in older homes (PDF 886kb)
- noise levels of common household tools such as an electrical drill or power saw and information on hearing protection (PDF 401kb)
Serving 2.2 million workers and about 190,000 employers, WorkSafeBC is a provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors and funded by employers. WorkSafeBC was born out of a compromise between BC's workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers or fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to a safe and healthy workplace and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits to workers injured as a result of their employment.
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| Gladys Johnsen |
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