Every year, employees and employers across Canada, the United States and Mexico participate in events in recognition of NAOSH Week during the first week of May. This special week is set aside to promote a greater awareness for the importance of preventing workplace accidents and occupational illnesses.

This year�s theme is Safety and Health, A Commitment for Life � Start Today. This theme is an excellent reminder for everyone that our lives depend upon a safe and healthy workplace. One way we can achieve this is by focusing our attention on ensuring safe and healthy work practices and procedures are a part of our everyday routine.

I have to especially recognize the hard work the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers does to promote NAOSH Week every year. If it were not for our local chapter, we may not be celebrating this week today. Ten years ago, the local chapter developed NAOSH Week as a way to highlight this important issue. Evidently, the need to recognize this week was not lost on the rest of North America as the celebration quickly spread throughout the province, Canada, the United States and Mexico. Once again, this province showed innovation and determination to emphasize the need for health and safety in our workplaces.

However, I cannot stress enough how important it is for all of us to continue to be vigilant year-round in order to make our workplaces safer. This one week is set aside to bring attention to workplace health and safety but it has to be something that each and every one of us commits to every day. We only have to think of our families and friends to encourage us to start today.

Workplaces all over the province are celebrating and recognizing NAOSH Week through many activities which promote safe work practices. I encourage everyone to do something in their workplaces this week which recognizes the importance of this issue.

By working together, government, employers and employees can ensure that all our workplaces are safe. If we all make this commitment, we will all do our part to ensure workers return home to their friends and families everyday.

Photo #1: Minister Dianne Whalen and Minister Shawn Skinner raise the NAOSH Week flag.

2007 05 07                                                      1:55 p.m.