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March 19, 1998
(Environment and Labour)

Workplace Health and Safety Programs Merged 
with Workers' Compensation Commission

Oliver Langdon, Minister of Environment and Labour, and Penelope Rowe, Chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission, have announced an expanded mandate and structure for the Workers' Compensation Commission.

Effective immediately, the commission will be renamed the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission. The change in name was made to signal an expanded role for the commission which now includes safety, prevention, education and training.

In increasing the mandate of the commission, the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Programs Division of the Department of Environment and Labour has been transferred to it. The Programs Division provides educational services on the importance of injury prevention in the workplace. This division has been responsible for joint occupational health and safety committees. The OH&S staff in the Programs Division will transfer to the commission as a result of this merger.

The Department of Environment and Labour will retain responsibility for workplace health and safety policy and inspections.

Minister Langdon stated that the decision to merge the OH&S Programs Division with the commission reflects a more proactive approach to workplace health and safety. He stated: "The nature of the workplace is changing in such a way that education and prevention are the keys to reducing injuries. While enforcement of legislation remains essential, we are moving towards an internal responsibility model and as a result of this reorganization, better opportunities will exist to help employers and employees take a more active role in preventing workplace injuries." "The Board of Directors welcomes the decision to integrate," said Penelope Rowe, Chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission. "The expanded role will lead to a more comprehensive approach to injury prevention. Prevention is the key to reducing workplace injuries and the Commission had recommended that this change take place. We believe a positive reinforcement model using incentive programs coupled with increased awareness, education and training will result in safer workplaces and lower injury rates."

Legislative changes are required to complete the merger. A transition team, comprised of officials from the Department of Environment and Labour and the Commission, will finalize the details during the next few months.

Minister Langdon noted that the new direction announced here today is supported by the Statutory Review of the Workers' Compensation Commission. Government's decision with respect to the 1997 Statutory Review Report are anticipated within the next few weeks.

"However," said the minister, "we are in a position to announce this tremendously positive and forward looking change today and we want to begin implementation of the decision immediately."

Contact:

Sean Kelly, Department of Environment and Labour,
(709) 729-2575

Margot Bruce-O'Connell, Workplace Health, Safety and
Compensation Commission (709) 778-1223.

1998 03 19 10:20 p.m.

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