News

Canada Post SAFE Work Clear the Way Contest Launched!

Personal & Financial cost of injuries can be prevented

 

December 11, 2008

Winnipeg - Some shocking statistics were shared this morning by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority – every year, 40 Manitobans lose their lives as a result of a slip, trip or fall.  And, every year, these type of injuries cost the Manitoba health system about $45 million. Many of the these injuries, however, are preventable.

“Many individuals enter residential properties everyday to provide a service - Canada Post mail carriers, Handi-Transit drivers, personnel from all of our utility providers and especially our City’s emergency responders – and they all need safe access to our homes and buildings,” said Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz at the news conference that was held today at the St. Vital Home Depot.

“I want to thank the Clear the Way Campaign partners for raising awareness of this important safety issue and for encouraging Winnipeggers to keep their property’s pathways safe this winter.”

Mayor Katz was referring to an innovative partnership between the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB), Canada Post (CPC) and other safety-minded crown corporations and private companies. Entitled the Canada Post SAFE Work Clear the Way contest, the initiative is aimed at encouraging Winnipeggers to clear ice and snow off walkways and pathways leading to doors, mailboxes and meters. Officials from the partner organizations will award a $200 gift certificate from the Home Depot to one winner every week for five weeks beginning December 16h, 2008 and the grand prize – an Ariens snow blower – at the conclusion of the six-week contest on January 20, 2009.

To win, Winnipeggers must enter via a pledge form promising to keep their pathways clear of ice snow and then follow through on that promise.  (For details on how to enter, and win the contest, please see the backgrounder.)

“We recognize that the shoveling and clearing of our walkways are important to our safety. But, we also need to understand that our walkways are someone’s workplace,” says Tom Farrell, WCB Board Chair. 

“SAFE and healthy workplaces are everyone’s responsibility. Shoveling your walkway is one more way you can help prevent injuries to those around you.”

On a provincial basis, approximately 14.4 per cent of WCB time loss injuries are due to slips, trips and falls from height. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) reports that seniors are also particularly at risk, and suffer approximately 30,000 injuries every year.

CPC reports that a whopping 60% of all injuries to letter carriers are caused by slips, trips and falls.  More than 70% of all accidents occur on or near their customers’ properties.

“So please, Clear the Way and make sure you keep your family, your friends, and all delivery people and meter readers safe.  It will be the best gift you can give to anyone this holiday season,” said Dale Elmore, a CPC letter carrier.

On any given workday, friends and loved ones, letter and newspaper carriers, meter readers and utility staff may need to access areas of homes that are covered by ice and snow.  While most people clear snow from their driveway to their main door during the winter, they often neglect to consider creating paths to meters or mailboxes after a snowfall. 

If a letter or newspaper carrier judges a walkway or set of stairs to be dangerous, they are not obligated to deliver to that particular address until the walking surfaces are improved.  This can cause unnecessary delivery delays.  So Clearing the Way is a practice that is valuable for everyone!

The Clear the Way partners are: The WCB, CPC, The City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Hydro Utility Services, The Home Depot, the WRHA and Take Pride Winnipeg.

 

Background- How the Contest Works

  • Through this campaign Winnipeg residents will have an opportunity to make winter safer by making a commitment to keeping their walkways, stairs, mailboxes and utility meters clear of snow and ice to create a safe passage.
  • Ballots will be available in the Winnipeg Free Press beginning today and every Friday afterward until January 16, 2009.
  • Ballots are available and can be entered online at: www.winnipegfreepress.com.
  • Beginning Tuesday, December 16th, ballot forms will also be available at all Home Depot stores in Winnipeg.
  • Ballots can be mailed to Kathi Neal, #408 -266 Graham Avenue, Wpg., MB R3C 0K2.
  • Every week for six weeks starting on December 16 a draw will be made for a prize. The first five prizes are each a $200 gift certificate to the Home Depot and the grand prize is an Ariens 9 horsepower, 27 inch clearing width snow blower. Ballots received up to 4:00 p.m. on the Tuesday of each draw week are all included.
  • Local letter carriers will confirm the resident’s commitment to clear the snow before winners are notified.  In areas served by community or group mailboxes, a Manitoba Hydro utility worker will confirm the resident’s commitment.
  • Failure to have maintained clear walks and pathways will result in disqualification of the winning ballot and a redraw to award the prize.
  • Winners will be notified via telephone. Prizes can be picked up at The Home Depot, 1999 Bishop Grandin Blvd, Winnipeg.
  • The contest closes on January 20, 2009.
  • All ballots will be returned to the ballot box for the final grand prize draw of the snow blower to take place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
  • All prizes must be accepted as awarded. No substitutions available. For a full list of contest rules and regulations, check the back of the ballot.