Safety & Health: A Commitment for Life
May 4 - 10, 2008

Celebrate safety during NAOSH week: Start Today! Live it Every Day!

May 4th to10th, 2008 is North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The NAOSH slogan is Safety & Health: A Commitment for Life. The current theme is: Start Today! Live it Every Day!

NAOSH Week is an annual initiative led by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), as well as Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). Since its inception in 1997, Canada, the United States and Mexico have remained leaders in the promotion of NAOSH week initiatives.

Each year during NAOSH Week, health and safety advocates and organizations across North America increase awareness of workplace health and safety through local, provincial and national events. Employers and workers are also encouraged to review their workplace health and safety programs.

This year, the national launch event will be held on Monday, May 5 in Ottawa, Ontario. This is the first time the launch will take place in Ontario. Keynote speakers include the Honourable Steven W. Mahoney, chair, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (Ontario), Rosemarie Leclair, president and chief executive officer, Hydro Ottawa Limited and [TBD – Shirley Hickman, executive director, Threads of Life].

Employers committed to health and safety can demonstrate their leadership by implementing health and safety programs and ensuring that policies and procedures are followed. They know that protecting the health and safety of their workers is not only a legal requirement, but it is the right thing to do. These actions build a healthy environment that can lead to fewer injuries and illnesses.

There are several resources available to assist employers and workers in learning about safe workplace practices. One resource is the Getting Started on Prevention booklet, developed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), which can be ordered free of charge by calling 1-800-663-6639 or 416-344-1016. If you visit prevent-it.ca you will learn about workplace safety and many reminders that “There really are no accidents.”

The Ontario NAOSH Network, a group representing many of the province’s prevention partners, has developed a brief 10-question checklist to help workplaces review their health and safety programs. The checklist is intended to get people thinking about basic requirements and workplace injury and illness prevention. It also provides information on resources that are available so employers and workers can make necessary improvements in co-operation with their health and safety committees or representatives.

This checklist can be found on the NAOSH.ca website as well as various safety partner websites and publications. The NAOSH.ca website was recently updated and redesigned, so be sure to check it out.

NAOSH week is an ideal time for organizations to enhance their knowledge of workplace safety by sponsoring or participating in health and safety events. These events can range from training sessions to contests to community events—anything designed to raise awareness.

For more information about NAOSH Week events being held in Ontario, visit the NAOSH Canada website: www.naosh.ca.