Three high schools located in Glenwood, Bishop�s Falls and Grand Falls-Windsor received a boost today for their Workplace Safety 3220 course. Each class will receive a portion of a $10,000 creative sentencing fine. The Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Government Services, provided the cheques this morning to the principals of Lakewood Academy, Leo Burke Academy and Exploits Valley High.

The funding was made possible through a plea agreement negotiated with Crosbie Industrial Services Limited. On June 18, 2002, an explosion occurred at the Ultramar tank farm in Botwood which resulted in injuries to two workers. Three companies including Crosbie Industrial Services Limited were charged in the incident.

"We have committed in the past to using creative sentencing, through cooperation with the court system, to support our youth so that they can learn, at any early age, about safe work practices," said Minister Whalen. "The Workplace Safety 3220 course is an excellent opportunity to provide youth with the tools and information that they need so that as they enter the workforce, they can make their workplaces safe and healthy environments."

The three closest high schools to where the incident occurred and which offer the Workplace Safety course were chosen to receive the funding. The amount of funding each school receives is proportional to the number of students attending the course. In Glenwood, Lakewood Academy will receive $2,500, in Bishop�s Falls, Leo Burke Academy will also receive $2,500 and in Grand Falls-Windsor, Exploits Valley High will receive $5,000.

"This money is much appreciated as it will help us enhance the resource base for the Workplace Safety 3220 course," said Dave Antle, principal of Exploits Valley High. "Courses like Workplace Safety 3220 require a great deal of expensive equipment that make the learning real and relevant for students. That is why our course is so popular with students."

"One of the most relevant and positive curriculum initiatives in recent years has been the provincial implementation of Workplace Safety 3220," said David Hamlyn, principal of Leo Burke Academy. "The course provides students with knowledge and real skills that are readily transferable to the workplace. The acquisition of this money will allow our school to access additional resources and materials to further improve the classroom delivery of the course."

"Lakewood Academy is very pleased to accept $2,500 from Minister Dianne Whalen," said Rene Cashim, principal of Lakewood Academy. "This money will be used to supplement the Workplace Health and Safety 3220 course at Lakewood Academy. As a result of this infusion of money, we will be able to purchase safety videos, sample personal protective equipment and technology equipment for the course. All of these resources will be used to help make young workers more prepared for the dangers that they will encounter as they enter today�s workplace. Our long-term goal is a young worker who has the attitude and safety skills to be an active participant in the occupational health and safety programs of Newfoundland and Labrador."

Creative sentencing has been a valuable resource to give back to communities which have been affected by workplace incidents. In 2006, creative sentencing was used to purchase the Passport to Safety cards for Corner Brook level III students and students taking the Workplace Safety 3220 course at Lewisporte Collegiate also benefited from creative sentencing.

The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education supports this initiative. "Early intervention has proven to be a successful tool to changing attitudes and behaviours in all sorts of areas," said Minister Burke. "Putting funding from the court process directly into our schools and to the Workplace Safety 3220 course is an excellent approach and sends a very strong message to our students and educators about just how important safety is on the job."

In addition recent convictions against Wabush Mines and the Iron Ore Company of Canada have resulted in $15,500 being directed to the minister for the purposes of public education in occupational health and safety matters. A portion of this creative sentence funding has been used to raise awareness through television advertising for two weeks which started on March 12 and runs to March 25.

"I was pleased today to be able to personally present the principals of the three high schools with these cheques. It was an honour to meet many of the students enrolled in the Workplace Safety 3220 course especially since they are showing an interest and commitment to occupational health and safety. These students are our future leaders and, through this course, they will be prepared to help us diminish the incidents of industrial accidents and disease," concluded Minister Whalen.

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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2007 03 14                                                  11:00 a.m.