From May 3 to 9, North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week will take place for a thirteenth year with the theme of “Make It Home Safe Every Day”.
Sponsored by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), NAOSH Week focuses on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace and raises understanding and awareness of safety and health issues.
“The Government of Canada is taking action by working with businesses and workers to help ensure that our workplaces are safe, healthy and productive places for Canadians to work,” said Federal Labour Minister Rona Ambrose. “NAOSH Week allows us to reflect on the importance of our roles in keeping pace with rapid changes in the workplace to help ensure that Canadians can succeed in the current economy.”
The Canadian launch of NAOSH Week will be held in Winnipeg at New Flyer Industries on Monday, May 4. This national kick-off will include keynote presentations, interactive demonstrations, and representation from dignitaries from all levels of government.
“Last week, on April 28 we honoured workers killed and injured on the job,” says Premier of Manitoba Gary Doer. “This week we continue in the same vein and rededicate ourselves to preventing occupational injuries and disease.”
“During NAOSH Week, people across Canada and throughout North America will take time to focus on the most important promise arising from our commitment – to make it home safe every day,” says Art Nordholm, CSSE President. “Through the collective and dedicated efforts of many individuals in a number of organizations, and with the support of regional and national partners, attention will be drawn to what safety and health is all about – making sure that injuries, illnesses and tragedies don’t happen. We must strive for this and achieve the goal to make it home safe every day.”
“Every worker in Canada has a right to participate in making the workplace safe,” says Len Hong, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). “By getting involved in the planning and implementation of workplace health and safety systems and programs, Canadians will play an important role in contributing to the welfare of their fellow workers. The NAOSH theme Make it Home Safe Everyday reminds us that preventing health and safety problems is more effective from collaborative efforts in the workplace involving coworkers and management and spreading the positive results to the home and the community.”
“Our support of NAOSH Week reflects the WCB’s vision of SAFE Work – A Way of Life,” says WCB Chairperson Michael Werier. “We’re committed to building a culture of safety in Manitoba, and continue to work with our partners to increase capacity for injury prevention.”
As part of NAOSH Week, employers are encouraged to develop safety activities in the workplace as a way to build prevention awareness among employees and the general public. Some examples include:
- Sponsoring a safety poster for employees’ children
- Creating a company safety calendar with reminders and tips
- Hosting a family safety fair or picnic
- Launching a recognition program to reward health and safety suggestions.
Annual awards are presented to safety-minded organizations in various categories, including best overall entry, most innovative and best representation of theme. Organizations in Manitoba are invited to submit entries at www.safemanitoba.com by June 12, 2009.
NAOSH Week is an annual initiative led by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and in association with organizations in Mexico and the United States. More information can be found at www.naosh.ca or www.csse.org.
The SAFE Work strategy is a joint initiative of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba and the Workplace Safety and Health Division to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses through promotion, protection and education.
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Contact:
Warren Preece
Director of Communications
WCB Manitoba
(204) 954-4113
www.wcb.mb.ca
Naline Rampersad
Press Secretary
Cabinet Communications
(204) 945-1494
NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS:
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
The Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) can be contacted by mail at 39 River Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 3P1; by telephone toll free at 1-877-44-NAOSH (62674) and at (416) 646-1600; by fax at (416) 646-9460; and through the Internet at http://www.csse.org CSSE Contact: Jan Fralick, Account Executive
For information about occupational health and safety, please contact the Inquiries Service at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) in Hamilton, Ontario, by telephone at 1-800-668-4284; by fax at (905) 572-4500; by e-mail at inquiries@ccohs.ca; and through the Internet at http://www.ccohs.ca
You can also visit the HRSDC- Labour Program Website at: Labour.gc.ca.
Founded in 1911, the American Society of Safety Engineers is the world’s oldest and largest professional safety organization. The non-profit ASSE has more than 30,000 safety professional members located throughout the U.S. and abroad who manage, supervise and consult on safety, health and environmental issues in industry, insurance, government and education. For more information, contact ASSE at www.asse.org.
