Manitoba and Saskatchewan have the highest workplace injury rates in Canada and have shared that dubious distinction for years. And those lost-time injury statistics do not include the agriculture sector, where 1,769 workers were killed between 1990 and 2005, according to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.

We know farms are dangerous — what’s happening in the rest of the industries in these two provinces?

With a lost-time injury rate that’s second highest in the country and a hospitalization rate from unintentional injuries that’s twice the national average, Saskatchewan’s safety record is in need of a big change.

Observers believe Saskatchewan’s agricultural roots have imbibed among its people a ‘git-r-done’ mentality that’s more focused on getting a job done rather than getting it done safely.

Saskatchewan employees will breathe easier this spring as a workplace smoking ban takes effect. The province-wide ban is the result of amendments to The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 and comes into force on May 31, 2009.

Under the existing smoking regulations, workplace smoking is allowed in certain designated smoking areas only. When the workplace smoking ban takes effect in May, smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed places of employment, including buildings, vehicles, other enclosed structures and underground mines with the following exceptions:

• Traditional First Nations and Métis spiritual or cultural ceremonies;
• Designated smoking rooms for residents and visitors of long-term care homes that are allowed by the Ministry of Health's Tobacco Control legislation;
• Areas of underground mines that are located more than 10 metres from other workers; and
• Some self-employed businesses, vehicles and camp living accommodations with permission and when others are not present.

"The workplace smoking ban brings our province in line with other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world that have prohibited smoking in the workplace," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said in a recent news release. "It is consistent with our government's goal of a stronger Saskatchewan and a better life."

To find out more on the health effects of smoking, visit www.health.gov.sk.ca.