Shane Mercer, Key Media Journalist Profile

Articles

Call for oversight and national standards in security guard safety

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Expert highlights 'huge gap' that he says gets 'missed every time' By 16 Apr. 2025 “This is not the Wild Wild West,” says Paul Carson, chairperson of the Security Guard Association of Ontario and vice president at Regal Security.
First Steps for Life campaign with new leader

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Eugene Gutierrez steps into Threads of Life role with deep purpose and clear vision By 16 Apr. 2025 Eugene Gutierrez begins his tenure as the new executive director of Threads of Life with a profound sense of respect for the organization's legacy and a deep personal connection to its mission. “The transition and working closely with Shirley Hickman and the team has been going very well,” Gutierrez says.
'One step at a time'

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

How David Collins is championing workplace safety through Steps for Life By 11 Apr. 2025 "Being a spokesperson with Threads of Life has been a part of my healing," says David Collins, the national family spokesperson for this year’s Steps for Life campaign. “It’s given me a sense of purpose, and an opportunity to share my story with the hope that it resonates — so someone else doesn’t have to go through what I did.” For Collins, the message is deeply personal.
University of Alberta 'advocated' for recovery of researcher's body

1 week ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

School defends investigation and says it reached out to Canadian Coast Guard By 11 Apr. 2025 The University of Alberta says it has advocated for a search and recovery mission to locate the body of Maya Bhatia, an Arctic researcher who disappeared in August 2023 while conducting fieldwork on the Jakeman Glacier near Grise Fiord, Nunavut. In a written statement to Canadian Occupational Safety, the university says: “Search and recovery is outside the university’s jurisdiction.
Canada’s Arctic safety failures

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Researcher's death exposes lack of oversight, training, and national protocols By 10 Apr. 2025 The death of internationally renowned Arctic researcher Maya Bhatia during fieldwork on the Jakeman Glacier near Grise Fiord, Nunavut, raises significant questions about how scientific expeditions in Canada’s North are planned and regulated.
Ontario announces another $2B WSIB rebate

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Rebate based on 2024 premiums rolls out by June as province confronts U.S. tariffs, market instability By 08 Apr. 2025 Ontario businesses receive a major boost as the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) issues an additional $2 billion rebate, part of a broader $11 billion provincial package aimed at stabilizing the economy amid rising trade tensions and financial market volatility.
Report into researcher’s death raises questions about scope and process

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Family, colleague, and expert react to University of Alberta's investigation report By 07 Apr. 2025 The University of Alberta’s internal investigation into the August 2023 death of Arctic researcher, Maya Bhatia, has come under scrutiny by family and colleagues for its limited scope and lack of site inspection. Canadian Occupational Safety received a redacted version of the school’s investigation report through an access to information request.
Aqueous batteries and seawater-powered safety

2 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Alberta researcher develops safer batteries for grid energy storage By 07 Apr. 2025 As Canada ramps up its use of renewable energy, the need for safer, scalable battery storage has never been greater. A new breakthrough from the University of Alberta could help meet that demand—using an ingredient as common as seawater.
Concerns about claim suppression in Ontario

3 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

Data shows tens of thousands of injury reports unmatched to claims filed By 03 Apr. 2025 Thousands of workplace injuries in Ontario may be going unrecognized each year, according to researchers analyzing data from the province’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
Nordic safety report reveals gaps, offers lesson for North America

3 weeks ago | thesafetymag.com | Shane Mercer

While 80% feel safe at work, 50% report being impacted by a workplace accident or illness By 03 Apr. 2025 “People take this really seriously. They want to be safe, and they feel safe,” says Tom Goodmanson, CEO of EcoOnline, in reference to new findings that reveal both strengths and shortfalls in workplace safety across the Nordic region.