2. Applying the Work: Physical Safety to Psychological Safety For many years, repetitive strain injury was the primary risk to library workers. This was the result of handling materials in large volumes, leading to a variety of debilitating musculoskeletal injuries. Violence in the workplace is a newer risk to library
Our third and final episode in our series on Occupational Health and Safety is now available. We talk about the four basic worker rights, how to participate in OH&S at work, and how OH&S and the union can work together. We end the episode with a
This is the second part of our conversation on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). In this episode, we talk about violence prevention programs, incident reporting, and workplace inspections. Regional differences really come into play here, as some provinces and territories have stronger mechanisms in place to reinforce and
The first part of our conversation on Occupational Health and Safety is out! This is the first part of a longer conversation on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). In this episode, we talk about what OH&S is in the context of public libraries, give a very,
Episode 4 is out! The final instalment of our lengthy conversation about what public library work looks like today. In this episode, Audrey and I discuss why some barriers (like fines) have been identified as inappropriate to public library service, and how other financial penalties continue to exist. We also
As always, a reminder that we are trained but not professionally certified in OH&S and are writing this from the perspective of workers. We want more people to be aware of the regulations and systems that influence their working conditions in order to become informed and to use
One of the major ways that workplace health and safety is regulated in Canada is through Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). This article goes over the high-level basics of OH&S in the workplace. None of this is legal advice– at The Library Worker, we are
Our third episode (and second in a three-part series) is out now. Audrey and I discuss how library work has changed because of automation by both reducing the physical impact of materials handling, but also reduced the amount of interactions between patrons and library staff. Library branches that have
Urban Library Trauma Study Final Report Basic Details Written by : Urban Librarians Unite (ULU) Published: 2022 Based in: Brooklyn, NY Focus: Urban public Libraries Geographical Region: USA Length: 61 pages Links Urban Librarians Unite Urban Library Trauma Study Final Report Library Worker Support Network The Quick Readability: This is a
Audrey and I sit down to talk about what public library work looks like and how it has changed in the last 10-15 years. We went long, so we are releasing it in doses—the first part delves into patron expectations and how that impacts what our work looks
We have already touched on how the perception of public libraries differs between a worker’s perspective and the academic or general public’s perspective. To illustrate this, a part of the library worker’s day contends with the lack of access to basic services such as washrooms, showers and
Frontline workers in public libraries deserve a safe workplace. This article discusses some of the issues facing workers and goes over some of the resources that currently exist.