Service NL
May 5, 2014
Championing Workplace Safety for Health and Well-Being
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week Launched in St. John’s
This morning, the Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL and Minister Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC), joined occupational health and safety professionals, representatives from all levels of government, industry, labour, and other sector stakeholders from across North America to launch North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week 2014. The national launch event was held at HMCS Cabot on the St. John’s harbour front. NAOSH Week is from May 4 to 10.
“NAOSH Week is a major opportunity to raise awareness of staying safe at work, at home and in our greater communities. It calls attention to the vital working relationship that exists between employers, employees and government when developing safety and training standards, ensuring best practices are being followed and advocating for an overall culture of safety awareness.”
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL and Minister Responsible for the WHSCC
The national NAOSH Week launch event held this morning included addresses from various leaders in the occupational health and safety sector, as well as a Harbour Sound Symposium, and a safety demonstration by a team from Republic of Doyle. This year’s theme is “Make Safety a Habit.”
“On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I would like to thank the launch event’s organizing committee, which included members from our local and national chapters of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) and representatives from employer, labour and industry groups. NAOSH Week was pioneered here in Newfoundland and Labrador by our own chapter of the CSSE.”
- Minister Crummell
NAOSH Week promotes safety and health awareness, education and enforcement and has grown to include all of Canada, the United States and Mexico.
QUICK FACTS
- The national launch event for NAOSH Week 2014 was held in St. John’s this morning. NAOSH Week is from May 4 to 10.
- Over 13,600 directives were issued to identify and correct unsafe work practices and more than 4,800 inspections were carried out in workplaces across the province.
- For the second year in a row, the number of workplace injuries resulting in lost time compensation claims remains at the lowest level ever recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Through Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook government added two occupational health and safety officers to assist with the inspections program.
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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Service NL
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca
2014 05 05 1:35 p.m.