"Workplace stress" is the harmful physical and emotional response that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on the employee and the amount of control an employee has over meeting these demands. In general, the combination of high demands in a job and a low amount of control over the situation can lead to stress.

Stress in the workplace can have many origins or come from one single event. It can impact both you and others within the Bagg Group or your client placement. As stated by the Canadian Mental Health Association:

Employees who start to feel the "pressure to perform" can get caught in a downward spiral of increasing effort to meet rising expectations with no increase in job satisfaction. The relentless requirement to work at optimum performance takes its toll in job dissatisfaction, employee turnover, reduced efficiency, illness and even death. Absenteeism, illness, alcoholism, "petty internal politics", bad or snap decisions, indifference and apathy, lack of motivation or creativity are all by-products of an over stressed workplace.

How do I know if someone is (or if I am) having trouble coping with stress?
There are many different signs and symptoms that can indicate when someone is having difficulty coping with the amount of stress they are experiencing:

• Physical: headaches, grinding teeth, clenched jaws, chest pain, shortness of breath, pounding heart, high blood pressure, muscle aches, indigestion, constipation or diarrhea, increased perspiration, fatigue, insomnia, frequent illness
• Psychosocial: anxiety, irritability, sadness, defensiveness, anger, mood swings, hypersensitivity, apathy, depression, slowed thinking or racing thoughts; feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or of being trapped
• Behavioural: overeating or loss of appetite, impatience, quickness to argue, procrastination, increased use of alcohol or drugs, increased smoking, withdrawal or isolation from others, neglect of responsibility, poor job performance, poor personal hygiene, change in religious practices, change in close family relationships

What action can I take if I, or someone I know, is showing the symptoms of stress?
Early warning signs of stress are often more emotional than physical and may take a year or more before they are noticeable. If this is occurring, one could:

• Talk about one's feelings with a trusting person.
• Take a vacation or some personal time.
• Make a change from regular activities.
• Use, if applicable, any EAP or Employee Assistance Program being offered.

When the warning signs have progressed and intensified and, over a period of 6 to 18 months, physical signs of stress become evident, one could:

• Consider some aggressive lifestyle changes.
• Enroll in short-term counseling.

Entrenched Cumulative Stress occurs when the stress indicators continue to be ignored. Here, stress starts to create a deeper impact on one's career, family life and personal well-being. When this is present one should

• Seek the help of medical and psychological professionals.
• Seek counseling through an EAP program.

If severe or debilitating stress is present, one should seek significant intervention from the proper individuals or groups.

The Bagg Group understands that there may be times when you have to work alone. The Bagg Group is fully committed to the health and safety of all employees in the workplace.

A person is alone at work when they are on their own:

• When they cannot be seen or heard by others;
• When they cannot expect a visit from another worker.

Common situations where a worker may be working alone and at risk are:

• A worker who handles cash such as a convenience store clerk, retail outlet employee, and taxi driver.
• A worker who meets clients out of the office such as a home care employee, social service employee, or by-law officer.
• A worker who does hazardous work with no regular interaction with other people such as a forestry worker, a worker in the freezer area of a cold storage facility or a night cleaner in a plant.

There are many steps that can be taken to help ensure your health and safety while working alone:

• Assess the hazards of the workplace.
• Establish an effective means of communication with your direct supervisor or other individuals.
• Be aware of emergency exit/escape routes and location of fire extinguishers.
• All employees must be made aware of emergency procedures and contact numbers of members of security and management.
• All emergency contact numbers must be displayed prominently in each branch to call for assistance and if they are not, you should request a copy of the emergency contact numbers.
• If the staff member observes something unusual or threatening, he/she then is to move to a safe location and contact building security immediately or call 911 for assistance.

It is the responsibility of any associate to notify their staffing manager if they have concerns about working alone at the client site.

Why it is Important to Preventing Workplace Injury and Illness?

Proper workplace lighting is essential to any good business:

• It allows employees to comfortably see what they're doing, without straining their eyes or their bodies.
• It makes work easier and more productive.
• It draws attention to hazardous operations and equipment.
• It helps prevent costly errors and accidents.

Factors that Affect Lighting for Task

The ability to "see" at work depends not only on lighting but also on:

1. The time to focus on an object. Fast moving objects are hard to see.
2. The size of an object. Very small objects are hard to see.
3. Brightness. Too much or too little reflected light makes objects hard to see.

Examples of work-related risk factors that contribute to eye discomfort are:

• Maintaining a fixed and close visual distance for a long time;
• Glare from the unshaded or un-diffused lighting fixtures;
• Poor lighting, involving unchanged (and unchangeable) levels of illumination;
• Unsuitable workstations (dimensions and arrangement);
• Low ambient humidity;
• Uncorrected vision problems, and lack of colour variety in one's surroundings.

Bright light sources behind the display screen can create contrast problems, making it difficult to clearly see your work. Some possible solutions for this hazard are to:

• Use blinds or drapes on windows to eliminate bright light. Blinds and furniture placement should be adjusted to allow light into the room, but not directly into your field of view.
• Use indirect or shielded lighting where possible and avoid intense or uneven lighting in your field of vision. Ensure that lamps have glare shields or shades to direct light away from your line of sight.

Glare can also cause many problems. Direct light sources (for example, windows, overhead lights) that cause reflected light to show up on the monitor make images more difficult to see, resulting in eye strain and fatigue. To prevent this, one possibly could:

• Place the face of the display screen at right angles to windows and light sources. Position task lighting (for example, a desk lamp) so the light does not reflect on the screen.
• Clean the monitor frequently. A layer of dust can contribute to glare.
• Use blinds or drapes on windows to help reduce glare.
• Use glare filters that attach directly to the surface of the monitor to reduce glare. Glare filters, when used, should not significantly decrease screen visibility.

Additional tips to help protect your eyes

1. Uncorrected vision may be an additional source of eye discomfort. It may have further consequences resulting in aches and pains because of awkward postures or positions "see better".
2. Check your vision every one or two years, as recommended by your eye specialist.
3. Provide your eye examiner with information about your job.
4. Consider using task-specific computer glasses.
5. Focusing your eyes on objects at the same distance and angle for prolonged periods of time can contribute to eyestrain.
6. Every few minutes look away from the screen for a few seconds.
7. Look around.
8. Focus your vision on distant objects.
9. Blink several times.
10. Frequently "stretching" your eyes like this will prevent feelings of fatigue from accumulating.

How do I know if there is poor indoor air quality in my workplace?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) problems can be subtle. It's not always easy to tell how they are affecting people in your workplace. As air quality gets worse, and people are exposed over a longer period, it tends to affect more people more seriously.

How do IAQ problems start?

Here are some reasons IAQ problems may develop:

Heating, ventilating and air conditioning

• There is no outdoor air for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
• The HVAC system is poorly designed. Or it is not properly run or maintained.
• The temperature and humidity are not controlled well.

Outside and inside air contaminants

• Toxins present in the outdoor air enter the building.
• Impurities in the air such as dusts, fungi, molds, vapours and odours.
• Emissions from sources inside the building. These could be vapours, gases or dust. They mainly come from new:
• Building materials
• Office furniture
• Equipment
• Carpeting.

Factors that Affect Indoor Air Quality

• The physical layout of the building.
• The building's heating/ventilation system, also known as HVAC.
• The outdoor climate.
• Contaminates inside and outside the building.
• Outdoor climate.
• Occupants (i.e. smoking, cooking, wearing strong cosmetics/scents).

Here are examples of common indoor air contaminants and their main sources:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2), tobacco smoke, perfume, body odours-from building occupants.
• Dust, fibreglass, asbestos, gases, including formaldehyde-from building materials.
• Toxic vapours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-from workplace cleansers, solvents, pesticides, disinfectants, glues.
• Gases, vapours, odours-off-gas emissions from furniture, carpets, and paints.
• Dust mites-from carpets, fabric, foam chair cushions.
• Microbial contaminants, fungi, moulds, bacteria -from damp areas, stagnant water and condensate pans.
• Ozone-from photocopiers, electric motors, electrostatic air cleaners.

What symptoms are often linked to poor indoor air quality?

Certain health conditions are common if the IAQ is poor. For example, you may notice:

• Your eyes, nose and throat are dry and irritated
• You have a hard time concentrating on mental tasks
• You have a headache
• You are fatigued and drowsy
• Your sinuses are congested, or you are coughing and sneezing
• You are short of breath
• Your skin is dry and itchy
• You feel nauseous
• You are hypersensitive or have allergies to changes in the air.
• Many of these symptoms are not specific to poor IAQ. They could also be due to other health problems. See your doctor for advice.

Things workers who may have a repetitive strain injury do:

• Frequently shake or rub their hands and fingers
• Guard, hold or support the wrist area
• Frequently massage their hands, wrists or forearms
• Use awkward postures
• Use quick, jerky movements

Things workers who may have a repetitive strain injury say:

• My hand fell asleep while driving the car
• My arms feel weak and heavy
• I am more sensitive to cold now
• I think I have arthritis
• My hands seem to be cramping a lot
• My fingers seem to swell in the morning
• It hurts to move my thumb
• I have a lump in my hand/wrist

Risk Factor	Common Risk Control Options
Repetition	Eliminate highly repetitious tasks by using engineering controls such as mechanization (e.g. power tools) or automation. If that is not practicable, consider options such as the following to minimize risk: Combine or eliminate some parts of work to reduce the pace of repetition. Incorporate flexibility over pace (e.g. allow the workers to take rest breaks and micro-pauses or to control the speed of the conveyor) Use good work techniques (e.g. avoid unnecessary repetitions as with multiple scanning of grocery items or multiple turning of lumber for grading). Reduce the duration of exposure to repetition (e.g. offer job rotation or job enhancement).
Work Posture	Eliminate awkward postures by using engineering controls such as adjusting work heights, minimizing reaching distances, changing orientation of work, changing layout of workstation, using adjustable or angled tools and equipment, and using turntables, conveyors, tilted surfaces or spring-loaded surfaces. The objective is to enable the worker to work in a comfortable posture. Every posture requires periodic changes and movement or it becomes static. If elimination of awkward postures is not possible, consider options such as the following to minimize risk: Minimize awkward postures of the trunk: Minimize forward bending by increasing the work height or moving objects closer (e.g. use turntables; improve layout of workspace). Minimize side bending by reducing the reach distance or moving objects to the front of the worker (e.g. improve layout of workspace; move closer to the objects.) Minimize twisting by reducing reach distance or moving objects to the front of the worker (e.g. improve layout of workspace; move closer to the objects). Minimize awkward postures of the shoulder: Minimize reaching forward by reducing the reach distance or lowering the work height. Minimize reaching sideways by reducing the reach distance, lowering the work height, or moving objects to the front of the body. Minimize reaching behind by moving objects to the front of the worker. Minimize reaching across the body by moving closer to the objects or transferring objects from one hand to another. Minimize awkward postures of the wrist by selecting the required tools with appropriate handles (e.g. angled handles). Minimize forearm rotation by using power tools or mechanical turners. Minimize squatting and kneeling by raising the work. Minimize static postures: Provide footrests to allow the worker to transfer weight from one foot to another. Provide opportunities for the worker to move about periodically. Minimize awkward postures while sitting by providing an appropriate chair that is adjusted to give good back support, maintain a comfortable posture and minimize contact stress. Provide tilted sit-stand stools to take the weight off the worker's feet and legs while allowing mobility.

The Keith Bagg Group is committed to providing all of its employees with a safe and healthy work environment. We are also committed to providing a procedure by which any employee may submit a complaint to management in confidence and without fear of retaliation.

All complaints will be investigated and addressed appropriately. Unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated. All employees are responsible for ensuring their conduct does not violate this policy.

Keith Bagg Group recognises that the question of whether a particular action or incident constitutes willful unsafe behaviour requires a factual determination based on all facts in the matter. Therefore, in some instances, it may be necessary to conduct a complete and thorough investigation which may include:

• Bringing the involved parties together so the situation can be discussed in an objective manner. Many times, differences in communications, perceptions or values may be the issue that needs to be examined and assessed.
• Interviewing other employees who may have witnessed the incident(s).

All investigations will be completed as quickly as practical. The complaining employee will be advised that a thorough investigation has been conducted and that appropriate action, if warranted, has been taken by The Keith Bagg Group.

Good housekeeping means a clean, orderly workplace. The basic rule of good housekeeping is: a proper place for everything and everything in its proper place. Good housekeeping is an efficient operating practice which results in high production, low accident rates, and improved employee morale. Poor housekeeping, on the other hand, is a common cause of most fires and personal injuries resulting from slips, trips and falls, and from being struck by falling objects.

Therefore, all workers have an equal responsibility in maintaining a safe workplace.

Precautions:

1. Ensure all working surfaces are in a safe condition, and kept clean and dry.
2. Keep all aisles clear of empty cartons, brooms, parts, and maps, etc.
3. Do not place any items on stairways.
4. Check flooring for holes, loose tile, grease, spilled liquids, broken glass or other debris.

Employer Responsibilities

1. An employer shall ensure that,
   1. the equipment, materials and protective devices as prescribed are provided;
   2. the equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer are maintained in good condition;
   3. the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace;
2. Without limiting the strict duty imposed by subsection (1), an employer shall,
   1. provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health and safety of the worker;
   2. when appointing a supervisor, appoint a competent person;
   3. acquaint a worker or person in authority over a worker with any hazard in the work and in the handling, storage, use, disposal and transport of any article, device, equipment or a biological, chemical or physical agent;
   4. take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.

Supervisor Responsibilities

1. A supervisor shall ensure that a worker,
   1. works in the manner and with the protective devices, measures and procedures required by this Act and the regulations; and
   2. uses or wears the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker's employer requires to be used or worn.
2. Without limiting the duty imposed by subsection (1), a supervisor shall,
   1. advise a worker of the existence of any potential or actual danger to the health or safety of the worker of which the supervisor is aware;
   2. take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.

Worker Responsibilities

1. A worker shall,
   1. work in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations;
   2. use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker's employer requires to be used or worn;
   3. report to his or her employer or supervisor the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself or another worker; and
   4. report to his or her employer or supervisor any contravention of the Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which he or she knows.

What mechanical conditions or design features increase the risk for forklift accidents?

• Malfunction of brakes
• Malfunction of steering
• Malfunction of clutch, shift linkage, or transmission
• Malfunction of mast assembly
• Leaks in hydraulic systems or transmission
• Safety devices lacking, inadequate, or malfunctioning
• Emissions from forklifts
• "Blind spots" or obstructions blocking driver's view
• Poor layout of controls and displays.

What characteristics of the load create a hazard?

• Poorly stacked or piled on the pallet
• Pallets in poor repair
• Load too heavy
• Load unstable or blocking vision.

How can workplace design contribute to forklift truck accidents?

• Narrow aisles
• Crowded, cluttered aisles
• Obstructions at intersections and doors
• Volume of traffic in work area
• Walking and working in the general area of forklift operations
• Other workplace conditions such as noise, odours, toxic gases, dust, or poor lighting
• Many ramps with different surfaces
• Condition of loading dock.

What behavioural and operational factors can contribute to forklift truck accidents?

• Improper backing up techniques
• Improper turning
• Improper warnings to others about a forklift in use nearby
• Poor communication during shared tasks, or in shared spaces
• Riding or giving rides on forklift or load
• Parking the forklift improperly
• Improper blocking of wheels on semi-trailers or railway cars
• Horseplay; stunt driving; jerky, erratic driving
• Inadequate servicing of the forklift.

What factors of work organization can contribute to forklift truck accidents?

• Lack of training or improper training of workers who have to operate forklift trucks
• Production factors such as speed or stress
• Lack of proper tools, attachments and accessories
• Improper assignment of forklifts and operators
• Poor maintenance of forklifts
• Age of forklifts

Basic Forklift Safety Rules

• Do not operate a forklift unless you have been trained to do so.
• Always use the seatbelt or operator-restraining device. Keep all parts of the body inside the running lines of the truck.
• Look to the front and rear before starting.
• Face in the direction of travel. Look backward before reversing.
• Only carry loads for which the truck is designed and rated. Check the load plate before picking up a load.
• Avoid sudden stops, starts, or turns. Such abrupt actions could spill the load or cause the machine to topple.
• Use extra caution when operating a forklift truck on a loading dock.
• Drive slowly on wet or slippery surfaces and rough ground.
• Don't drive with forks raised. Keep them just clear of the ground, and tilted slightly back.
• Slow down or stop when vision is obstructed.
• NO PASSENGERS.
• Do not work under suspended loads.
• When climbing or descending inclines, the load should always be uphill. Never drive a forklift truck across an incline.
• Do not park on a slope. Never leave a forklift unattended without lowering the forks, setting the brake, neutralizing controls, shutting off power, and removing the ignition key.
• Always bear in mind that the stability of a forklift truck decreases as a load is raised. Try to avoid tilting an elevated load forward until it is over the place of unloading.
• Check for adequate overhead clearance before raising the load.
• Note anything that affects the normal operation of the forklift and tell the supervisor immediately.
• Report any collisions, damage or near-miss accidents to a supervisor immediately.

Good housekeeping means a clean and orderly workplace. The basic rule of good housekeeping is: a proper place for everything and everything in its proper place.

Why should we pay attention to housekeeping at work?

Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done safely and properly. Poor housekeeping can frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries.

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and orderly; maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards; and removing of waste materials (e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas. It also requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole workplace, aisle marking, the adequacy of storage facilities, and maintenance.

Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation; it is not a hit-and-miss cleanup done occasionally. Periodic "panic" cleanups are costly and ineffective in reducing accidents.

Without good housekeeping practices, any other preventive measures such as installation of sophisticated flooring, specialty footwear or training on techniques of walking and safe falling will never be fully effective.

What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping?

It is to assist in preventing workplace injury, incidents and illness. Poor housekeeping can be a cause of accidents, such as:

• Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms;
• Being hit by falling objects;
• Slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces;
• Striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material;
• Cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on projecting nails, wire or steel strapping.

What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?

Effective housekeeping results in:

• Fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas;
• Decreased fire hazards;
• Lower worker exposures to hazardous substances;
• Better control of tools and materials;
• More efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance;
• Better hygienic conditions leading to improved health;
• More effective use of space;
• Reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance;
• Less janitorial work;
• Improved morale.

Disciplinary Action

In the event an investigation reveals that any employee has engaged in unsafe behaviour, disciplinary action will be taken in the form of training, verbal warning, written warning or discharge as determined by the Manager of the department and The Bagg Group.

The objective of any disciplinary action is to correct the problem, the action, or behaviour, not the person. Other important rules regarding workplace discipline are:

• The type of discipline should fit the severity of the violation; and
• Discipline should be conducted in private.

Confidentiality/Non-Retaliation

Complaints will be treated with confidentiality and respect regarding the personal privacy of all concerned parties. No retaliation against any employee will result from the filing of a complaint.

All complaints will be investigated and addressed appropriately. Unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated by The Bagg Group. All employees are responsible for ensuring their conduct does not violate this policy. In addition, all Bagg Group Managers are responsible for ensuring that their work areas are safe. Violation of this policy is employee misconduct. Violators will receive training and/or disciplinary action, as deemed appropriate.

Disciplinary procedures can be helpful in highlighting difficulties with individual workers within an organization and can be used as a means to manage and improve poor performance.

Important

No disciplinary action is taken without appropriate grounds for such action. Any disciplinary action should be justified and therefore based on information and facts that can generally be verified. In relation to child protection concerns, which allege the involvement of a worker, the organization must ensure that its own internal investigation does not compromise the work of the child protection agencies (i.e. Police and/or Social Work).