Shane Mercer, Key Media Journalist Profile

Articles

Abuse and burnout plague Canada's dental hygienists

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

60% of survey respondents experienced or witnessed harassment, bullying, or abuse at work Dental hygienists across Canada are continuing to provide essential care through the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), but many face challenging and even hazardous working conditions. While some clinics offer respectful, supportive environments, others fall short, with reports of harassment, burnout, and unsafe practices on the rise.
'WSIB went backwards' says union as strike enters second month

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

WSIB says union leaders need to 'take yes for an answer' Striking WSIB workers picket in Sudbury, Ontario on June 17, 2025 With more than 3,600 Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) employees now on strike for more than four weeks, pressure is mounting on all sides to resolve the agency’s first work stoppage in its 110-year history.
Pushing for national safety standards amid economic shifts

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

One Canadian Economy Act is an opportunity to 'break down regulatory silos' says CCOHS VP Panelists at Canadian Safety Summit on June 17 in Brampton, Ontario As Canada moves to streamline labour mobility with the One Canadian Economy Act, safety professionals are seizing the moment to demand national consistency in workplace protections.
Workplace Safety North earns Great Place to Work® certification

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

'It's through true commitment to our mandate and the support each teammate has for one another that we achieve this milestone' says CEO Workplace Safety North (WSN) receives recognition as one of Canada’s best workplaces, earning Great Place to Work® certification following a staff-wide survey and culture assessment. In a survey conducted in late 2024, 88 percent of WSN employees report that the organization is a great place to work, significantly surpassing the national average of 60 percent.
The case for SIFs as a safety KPI

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

'We want to shift our focus away from frequency and instead think about severity — and measure it' says speaker at Canadian Safety Summit At the 2025 Canadian Safety Summit, John Maynard, sales engineer with EcoOnline, delivers a wake-up call to health and safety leaders across the country. The message is clear: Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) demand more than awareness — they deserve a permanent place on the safety KPI dashboard.
TSB reports fewer accidents in 2024, but worker safety concerns remain

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

'Anytime we see a reduction in the number of accidents or incidents… it's always welcome,' says TSB data insights lead The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its final statistical summary for 2024, revealing a year-over-year decline in reported transportation occurrences across the air, marine, pipeline, and rail sectors.
Progress in WSIB strike negotiations

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

'No reason we couldn't get this done very quickly' says union leader with only a handful of issues remaining WSIB workers picket in Ottawa on Tuesday June 10 (Source: X/@Ottawalabour) After more than three weeks of strike action at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), the prospect of a resolution appears closer than at any time since negotiations began.
On their own, but not alone

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

As Canadian employers grapple with evolving workforce dynamics, lone work is becoming more common — and more dangerous. From nurses visiting patients at home to utility workers in remote areas and retail staff facing aggressive customers, risks are rising. That’s where OK Alone, a mobile safety platform, is gaining traction as a tool to protect lone and high-risk workers.
Canada’s healthcare sector at a digital crossroads

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

New report finds 87% of Canadian healthcare organizations are using AI Canada’s healthcare sector is racing to embrace cutting-edge technologies, but outdated systems and security concerns are putting the brakes on progress, according to a new report by SOTI titled Healthcare's Digital Dilemma: Calculated Risks and Hidden Challenges Exposed.
Breaking stubborn trends at Canadian Safety Summit

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

'I find it unacceptable' says panel moderator about Canada's fatality rate ahead of gathering of safety leaders The Canadian Safety Summit on June 17, sponsored by event parnter EcoOnline, convenes workplace safety professionals from across the country. One of the summit’s key sessions is the panel discussion, “Safety Leaders Unfiltered: Risks, Realities and the Road Ahead,” moderated by Rod Cook, vice president of Workplace Health and Safety Services at the WSIB.