Workplace safety and health week celebrated across North America
Additional resources
- NAOSH Week events (PDF 72kb)
Richmond, B.C., May 4, 2009 —Organizations and individuals across North America that are committed to creating safer workplaces and communities will be participating in activities and events this week in recognition of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH Week) from May 3 to 9, 2009.
“We use this week to educate others on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace,” said Jim Lippert, president of the NAOSH Week Steering Committee — B.C. “While safety should be a daily focus at work, we encourage companies and individuals to plan activities that bring a focus to on-the-job safety and health during this annual week.”
WorkSafeBC received more than 128,000 work-related claims in 2008 resulting in almost three million days being lost as a result of workplace injury, illness or disease. Last year, 160 workers died as a result of their job — four of whom were young workers aged 15-24. In British Columbia, each week an average of three workers die, 3,000 are injured, and nine suffer a permanent disability.
“WorkSafeBC supports and is committed to NAOSH Week,” said Diana Miles, WorkSafeBC’s vice-president of Worker and Employer Services. “Prevention of workplace injuries is job one at WorkSafeBC. This includes creating a culture of safety where all workers go to work without fear of injury. NAOSH Week helps build a culture of safety.”
The goal of NAOSH Week is to bring attention to employers, workers, and the general public the importance of preventing injury and illness both in the workplace and at home. The week is marked by a 1997 agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico to dedicate a week in the year to focus on occupational health and safety. The logo with the three participating nations symbolizes joint venture, cooperation, and the commitment to the common goals shared by all occupational health and safety partners.
The Canadian launch of NAOSH Week is taking place today for the first time in Winnipeg, Manitoba with federal, provincial, and civic dignitaries in attendance along with about 400 safety professionals and associations. Throughout B.C., a number of activities are being planned by local organizations, some of which can be found on the NAOSH web site.
Those in B.C. who participate in activities during the week are eligible to enter the B.C. NAOSH Awards competition for an opportunity to win awards and be recognized at an event to be held on October 21, 2009. Awards are provided in categories for educational institutions, tourism, and hospitality, federal and provincial agencies, health and social services, manufacturing, marine, small business, crown corporations and more.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
|
For more information, contact: |
|
| Michelle McLeod |
|