The Online Occupational Safety Course: A Full Review
If you’re a CBC employee, you likely received an internal email today saying you must complete an online course called Occupational Health and Safety by the end of next month.
I just took the course. It’s not the kind of thing you can walk through between stories or on a break. It takes 40 minutes to complete.
It’s actually pretty common-sense stuff. But the actual content (types of hazards) doesn’t begin until 18 minutes into the course. The lengthy introduction is dedicated to definitions, acronyms, committees, legislation and regulations, and processes. It even walks you through each exciting part of the COHS legislation — section by section. (Chapter 2.7)
And no, you can’t skip to the “meat.” You’ve got to run through the whole thing. At the end of each chapter, there is a test. I don’t want to give anything away, but one of the questions actually asks you how many chapters there are in the legislation. I wish I were kidding about this. My other favourite quiz question:
Things I learned:
- It is bad to inhale asbestos.
- The CBC has a booklet available on how to wash your hands properly.
- Overloading electrical circuits may cause a fire.
- Falling from heights is dangerous. If you must climb, wear protective gear.
- You can not refuse dangerous work, if that work is part of your normal job.
- The CBC has rules and guidelines about the safe use of lasers. You can ask your supervisor if you’d like to see them.
Best Line:
“The legislation does not permit you to
refuse work that you simply don’t like.”
(Chapter 2.5)
Runner-Up:
“Remember that you can make a difference!”
Best Photo:
(Megan notes in the comments: “That’s clearly a very dangerous area of the
building. The guy in the background is already in a wheelchair.”)
To take the course, go to the Organizational Health and Wellness [internal link] site on the Intranet. If you plan to take this from home (the course is available outside of the CBC network), make sure you first visit that page to get the login information.
You even get a certificate you can print out and put on your cubicle wall. Or choose the “Wallet Size” option if you’d like to carry it around with you to impress your friends. Awesome.
Completing the course is a legal requirement. If you don’t finish it by February 29th, you’ll get a “friendly reminder” in your email.
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That’s clearly a very dangerous area of the building. The guy in the background is already in a wheelchair.
LOL!!! Best. Post. Ever.
So… this month I’ve got ITIL training, Respect down Pit at some unknown time (mandatory, but you have to organize it yourself – what’s up with that?), a full week of training on the CMS, and now this as a nice little cherry on top.
Don’t these people realize I actually work for a living? What if I sign something to the effect that I’ll never trouble the health plan with a therapy bill, can I at least skip RiW?
Ha! I just took the course… Tod, you didn’t mention how the “instructor’s” voice seems perfectly tuned to put one to sleep. I too loved the question about how many chapters there are in the Labour Code (part II!). And I laughed out loud at the “remember, you too can make a difference” line — delivered with nothing but conviction by the announcer dude/instructor.
I printed the full-size certificate (no measly wallet-size for me!) and taped it to my office door. I just wish it included my score from the “final exam.”
This place gets crazier every day.
But since it appears that the management of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is as dense as neutron star, let me suggest some alternatives: The Index to Starfleet Handweapons.
Click on the icon of the phaser to read the section. I especially recommend reading the chapters on “Phaser Power Settings” and “Phaser Training.”
A good, non Starfleet alternative is the Bureau Five Armoury which details both Star Fleet, private sector human and alien phasers.
You know, the great Klingon admiral and Dahar Master, Kor, once told me after a little too much Saurian Brandy that he had once worked for the CBC.
Maybe a another Klingon Dahar Master could challenge the managers and really shake the place up.
Sincerely
Montgomery Scott, Capt. Star Fleet (retired)
I can summarize it for you, Scotty:
"Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
Good thing you told us that the e-mail contained relevant information, Tod — I deleted it sight unseen, just as I do all useless e-mails from the Health and Safety Gestapo. I shudder to think how much money is wasted on this stuff.
OK, so who says this is a "legal requirement"? I just looked up the Canada Labour Code, and under the Health and Safety Matters section for "Duties of Employees", there is no mention of taking a mandatory "course" such as this….
In response to "Anonymous", the requirement is under the Hazard Prevention Program regulation – which requires all employers to ensure that all employees are educated as to the content of the hazard prevention program and to their responsibilities under the Code.
The narration on this is pretty bad. It sounds like the guy is reading in his "official announcer voice". The least they could do was use some of the voice tallant we have in house. I’ll bet more people would do the course if bernie mcnamee was telling us how to be safe!
Harry Phillips, is this something new, then? I’ve been around here for some time, and we’ve never been required to do this kind of thing before…
iNudes, I think you mean "talent", right?
Yes anonymous, you’re right, I meant talent. There is a reason why I’m in radio. Hooked on Phonics continues to not work for me!
Hazards from working outdoors may include:
bites– from insects!
Oh noes!
Yes, it is fairly new. This was a new regulation, passed in late 2006.
Almost every one at CBC have totally ignored messages of this sort since the lockout (many people have GW programmed to autodelete anything from English Communications). Even if management sends a naughty naughty note in February for not doing the course, it too will be auto deleted. (It just shows that management has totally failed to regain the trust and respect of employees)
There is one solution, since everyone is overworked and has no time for this sort of thing, I suggest that those CBC employees who still get overtime do that 40 minute course on OT! And for all those who are the self-assigned, they can self assign themselves to do it after retirement.
Or if the rumoured buy outs happen, do it the day the cheque is cashed! (ha ha)
I happen to be partnered with someone who’s an HR consultant. The advice I got (and he knows the legislation) is that CBC is required to offer the course to employees, but employees aren’t actually required to take the the course. However, the course will keep harassing you if you don’t take it, so it’s better to take it than not.
Please do not attempt to do take this course while operating heavy machinery.
I still rue the day I tried.