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Manitoba hosts nation's NAOSH kickoff

Safety is about to take centre stage for Manitoba workers.  

For the first time since the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week began more than a decade ago, Manitoba will proudly host the advocacy week’s official Canadian launch – an event that according to organizers is a landmark for the province’s safety efforts.  

“It’s all about getting people in the workplace: your staff and your supervisors to think about safety,” says NAOSH Week Manitoba Chair Daf Francisco. “This year’s theme is about making it home safe every day. We want to make sure everyone has the knowledge to do that. We want to get that message out.” 

NAOSH Week was developed in 1997 as a way to focus people – employers, employees, partners and the public – in Canada, the United Sates and Mexico on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community. 

Led by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), NAOSH is rooted in community and community involvement – in short, it is the one week of the year when all organizations across Canada collectively turn their attention to safety. 

This year’s festivities run May 3-9, during which time organizations across Canada will pay homage to safe work and play practices.  Manitoba’s kickoff will take place May 4 at New Flyer Industries, but events across the province are expansive.  

To start the week, the First Annual Winnipeg Steps for Life walk will take place at Kildonan Park on May 3.

On May 7, SAFE Workers of Tomorrow are holding a Bingo Bowl at St. Vital Lanes and encourage bowlers to play their first game in safety gear.  

On top of that, each and every workplace in the province is invited to stage and take part in their very own NAOSH event – whatever it may be.  

“We’re just looking at the positive impact of safety on Winnipeg and the workplace,” Francisco said, noting the committee hopes partnering with the national NAOSH organizers will raise the profile of events within Manitoba.  

“A lot of people don’t even realize that we have so many associations leading the way in safety,” Francisco said. “This NAOSH Week we want to promote them. That’s actually our goal – letting people know they’ve got an association they can join and help get their company back on track where safety is oncerned.”

Photo Caption:

Labour and Immigration Minister, Nancy Allan, proclaims May 3 – 9, 2009 as North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week in Manitoba. 

With the Minister at the official signing of the NAOSH Proclamation are (left to right): (standing):  Don Hurst, Assistant Deputy Minister, Workplace Safety and Health Division; Jeff Parr, Deputy Minister, Labour and Immigration; (seated): Jeff Philpott, President, Manitoba Chapter, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering; Daf Francisco, NAOSH Week Chair, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering.