Episode 5: Occupational Health and Safety, Part 1

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, very brief history of workplace safety in Canada (spoiler alert, psychological wellness is a newly recognized workplace risk), how and why it differs from region to region, and then get into Health and Safety Committees.

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These episodes and all our content are intended to share our experiences and highlight resources and are not legal advice. Check out your regional OHS agencies for verified information. Our intention is to encourage library—and all—workers to get curious about the legal frameworks that effect our conditions of employment and get familiar with and use the tools that are at our disposal.

An Introduction to Libraries and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees - applying the work

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

Episode 7: Occupational Health and Safety, Part 3

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

Episode 6: Occupational Health and Safety, Part 2

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

Episode 4: Barriers, Safety, and the Weaponization of Security

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

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An Introduction to Libraries and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees - applying the work

Episode 7: Occupational Health and Safety, Part 3

Episode 6: Occupational Health and Safety, Part 2

Episode 4: Barriers, Safety, and the Weaponization of Security