Released on May 4, 2009
Getting home safely at the end of each work day is the focus of this year's North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 3 to 9, 2009.
"NAOSH Week is a time for Saskatchewan people to take health and safety into their hearts and minds, and make getting home safely the most important part of each workday," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister and Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board Rob Norris said.
On April 28, Saskatchewan recognized the National Day of Mourning for workers injured or killed on-the job. On the Day of Mourning this year, 31 Saskatchewan people who lost their lives to their work were recognized. In addition to the tragic loss of life, more than 40,000 workers report injuries each year.
The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour (AEEL) works with the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) to prevent work-related illnesses, injuries and deaths through WorkSafe Saskatchewan.
"The phrase we use with WorkSafe is ‘Work to live' instead of ‘Live to work'. Put your life - your personal safety first," Workers' Compensation Board chair David Eberle said. "That means always keeping safety as a top priority when you're on the job. NAOSH Week reminds us to do this every day."
In 2008, AEEL and WCB strengthened their relationship with a new Memorandum of Understanding. The renewed partnership has produced one prevention strategy to help reduce and eventually eliminate work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. Part of that strategy will be a safety charter program, to encourage the public and private sector leaders to publicly commit to improving safety performance within their organizations.
"The death and injury of workers in Saskatchewan are tragedies that affect all people in our province," Norris said. "Let us all work together in 2009 to create cultures of health and safety in our workplaces."
NAOSH Week is observed in Canada, the United States and Mexico. WorkSafe Saskatchewan partners with the Government of Canada, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, Saskatchewan Safety Council, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, Saskatchewan Safety Associations, Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, SaskTel and SaskPower to promote NAOSH Week in the province.
To find out more about working safely in Saskatchewan, visit www.worksafesask.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Donna-Rae Crooks
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3716
Email: donna-rae.crooks@gov.sk.ca
Heather Becker
Workers' Compensation Board
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4651