Cleaning, repairing, or performing maintenance on equipment requires safety measures to avoid serious injuries to workers. This is especially true with equipment or tools that have pinch points, cutting edges, or rotating parts. Machine guards and lockout procedures are vital to avoid pinch, crush, and amputation injuries. 

A worker was seriously injured while cleaning dirt and debris from around a drill blast-hole.  The worker’s arm was pinned by the drill’s dust collector after accidental contact was made with the drill controls. Drilling activities had been stopped but the drill was not completely shut down while cleaning was taking place.

A worker slipped and fell on stairs when exiting a building and fractured their ankle. 

On October 12, 2021 Iqaluit City Council declared a state of local emergency due to the possibility of petroleum hydrocarbons at the Iqaluit water treatment plant. The Government of Nunavut is advising Iqalummiut not to consume tap water for drinking or cooking, until further notice. 

Employers must ensure that potable (safe to drink) water is readily available in the workplace or to make alternate arrangements to ensure that employees have access to safe drinking water. 

On October 12, 2021 Iqaluit City Council declared a state of local emergency due to the possibility of petroleum hydrocarbons at the Iqaluit water treatment plant. The Government of Nunavut is advising Iqalummiut not to consume tap water for drinking or cooking, until further notice. 

A Toolbox Talk is a casual workplace safety talk that focuses on a specific topic. A supervisor leads the talk, focusing on that day’s work, such as a new or uncommon task, workplace hazards, and/or safe work practices. It's important to demonstrate to workers that safety is a priority in your business by taking the lead and showing them that safety is not only one person's job; it’s a company commitment. They help combat complacency by keeping health and safety top of mind.

If you suffer a workplace injury that requires medical aid, you must report the injury to your Employer and the WSCC.

If you need help filling out the Worker's Report of Injury form, please call WSCC at:

NWT Tele-claim: 1-800-661-0792
Nunavut Tele-claim: 1-877-404-4407

After you provide first aid for your injured worker, and transport them to the closest hospital or medical centre (if necessary), you must report the incident to the WSCC.

Please note that some incidents must be reported orally to 1-800-661-0792. For more information see our webpage on your reporting requirements.