Smoking in the workplace, increased accident prevention and incentives to promote safety are priorities in a new round of consultation for the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board.

Board chair Craig Tuton said recently the board will embark on a two-month consultation process aimed at paring work place accidents and asking Yukoners whether existing no-smoking regulations in the territory are appropriate.

It may be that residents don't feel enough is being done in the work place to protect their health from secondhand smoke, Tuton explained.

'Do they feel strong enough about it, if the government does not do anything about it, do they want the Yukon's compensation board to do it?' Tuton asked during a briefing last Friday afternoon when he unveiled the two-month round of public consultation.

He said whether smoking and other air quality issues in the work place is an issue is what the board hopes to determine through consultation.

There are several provinces where the provincial legislatures have enacted no-smoking legislation, but no-smoking regulations in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and B.C. are the result action by their compensation boards.

The need to promote accident prevention and reduce lost-time accidents, and what Yukoners want to see in the form of new incentives to promote safety, are the two other areas of priority for this round of consultation, titled Working Together on Prevention, Tuton said.

He said there are approximately 1,000 work place accidents in the Yukon every year, of which half result in lost time.

While the number of accidents is remaining constant, Tuton noted, the average time away from work has risen from 35 days in 1992 to 100.

'The bottom line is to prevent these work place injuries and illnesses before they happen,' he said. 'We can't do it alone.

'... Some employers say they do not have the time and money to manage safety,' he said. 'However, it has been proven over and over again that these companies that take the time and spend the money to manage safety will be successful in saving money.'

There needs to be an atmosphere where employees feel comfortable raising safety concerns, even if it's just the need to replace a scratched pair of safety glasses, where employers accept and promote that type of openness, Tuton said.

He noted one of the larger construction companies in Whitehorse holds weekly tailgate meetings where employees at the work site gather around for regular safety briefings.

The goal, said Tuton, is to have a safety management system in place for 80 per cent of Yukon employers by 2008.

Tuton said the compensation board's goals may be aggressive, but by working together, he is convinced they are achievable.

'Because like it or not, getting hurt on the job is not an acceptable cost of doing business.'

Yukoners can contact the board in writing or by e-mail by June 24. There are also four public meetings in Whitehorse through May, the first scheduled for May 3.

Yukoners also have the opportunity to participate in the public meetings by conference call. Arrangements can be made by contacting the WCB office.

The board is also planning to visit this fall the issue of premiums for employers.