The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Service NL:

Occupational Safety and Health Week
Officially Proclaimed in Newfoundland and Labrador

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize May 5 to 11 as North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. This morning, I joined members of our local chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers, as well as representatives from employer and labour groups, to raise the NAOSH Week flag.

This year’s theme, Safety and Health: A Commitment for Life! Are You as Safe as You Think?, urges us – no matter where we do our work – to take a moment to take a second look at our daily routines and practices. Are we being as safe as we can be?

I thank the members of our local chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers who every year volunteer their time to plan and promote NAOSH Week. This local group was the pioneer of NAOSH Week and it has now grown to include the rest of Canada, the United States and Mexico which is an incredible achievement.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that I, along with my Honourable colleague, the Minister of Natural Resources, later today in this House of Assembly are moving forward with amendments to the Atlantic Accord which streamlines the occupational health and safety legislative framework for the offshore. This amendment tailors occupational health and safety principles to reflect the different offshore workplace parties and unique offshore working environment.

As employers, employees and government, we must continue to work together to seek out and identify risks and dangers, then work to eliminate them through prevention, protection and sound policy-making. We must strive to enhance our safety culture, ensuring best practices are used at all times. Our best defence against workplace incidents is prevention. After all, accidents don’t just happen – they are caused.

Mr. Speaker, as Minister Responsible for Occupational Health and Safety and the Workplace Health, Safety, and Compensation Commission, I urge everyone in the province to take that second look at their workplace and remember to always keep safety at the forefront.

Building a strong safety culture today yields a safer tomorrow for the next generation of working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

2013 05 06             1:50 p.m.