We at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) recognize this Sunday, April 28, 2024, as the National Day of Mourning, where we honour those who have been injured or killed in the workplace. This day is a reminder to us all just how important practices of safety are in everything we do at the College – not only for staff and students, but for all our loved ones, family, friends, and extended communities.

RRC Polytech will fly our flags at half-mast today in recognition of those affected by workplace tragedy, and our commitment to preventing workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. At 11 a.m., all campuses will observe a minute of silence for workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job, and will renew our commitment to health and safety in the workplace.

According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, in 2022, there were 993 recorded fatalities at work, and nearly 350,000 claims for lost time due to a work-related injury or illness, in Canada. Thirty-three of those who lost their lives and 40,203 of those injured were between the ages of just 15 and 24.

These numbers remind us of the role that we all must continue to play in ensuring a safe working and learning environment for everyone who enters our campuses. As a College, we directly impact the practices and behaviours we instill in our students, which they carry forward into their careers and future workplaces.

RRC Polytech is committed to a proactive approach to safety and to setting an exceptional standard as an educational leader of safety and health. Some of the initiatives RRC Polytech have undertaken to provide all staff and students with a safe and healthy environment includes:

• Machine Guarding Program – the College is in the fifth and final year to review and update protective guards and equipment on campus. Since the project started, the College has audited over 800 machines, and made safeguarding upgrades to over 325 pieces of equipment in student labs, workshops, and facility management spaces, ensuring every piece of equipment on campus complies with the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations, and replacing those that don’t.

• Campus Alerting and Emergency Response Plan – The Campus Alerting project has been successful in enhancing communications efforts to keeping our College community informed on everything from icy sidewalks to an evacuation of an area if necessary. Informacast is a mass notification software which enables RRC Polytech to broadcast alerts in a timely and efficient manner. Alerts will appear through your mobile phones, emails, on-premise devices (office phone or computer), or MS Teams. Staff and students are encouraged to subscribe for updates through the campus alerting system.

• Contractor Safety Enhancement Project – RRC Polytech focuses on building stronger relationships with contractors and partners we work with to ensure that they continue to meet RRC Polytech’s high safety standards while on our campuses.

• Security Services – aims to provide a safe and secure environment for students, staff, and visitors. Learn more on the safety and security section of our website.

On this National Day of Mourning, take a moment to reflect on the importance of workplace safety, let us honour those who have been affected by workplace-related incidents, and work towards a future where everyone can learn and work safely.

If you have questions or ideas on how we can continue to make RRC Polytech a safe place to work and learn, please reach out to safety@rrc.ca.