Canadian Launch Of North American Occupational Safety And Health Week Celebrated

Halifax, Nova Scotia - Recently, the Canadian launch of North American Occupational Safety & Health Week (NAOSH) kicked off at Pier 21 in Halifax. Keynote speaker, Duncan Hawthorne, the voice behind the CEO Health and Safety Leadership Charter, spoke of the need for senior business leaders to shape and foster a safety-focussed culture in their organization.

Representatives from the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), the Government of Canada and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) collaborated with the NS NAOSH Week Steering Committee, WCB Nova Scotia, the CSSE Atlantic Region Chapters, and a number of safety associations to officially launch Safety & Health Week 2007 (May 6 - 12, 2007).

"NAOSH Week is about celebrating the incredibly positive actions that go on day in and day out to ensure the safety and health of Canadian workers, said Mr. Andrew Cooper, CSSE NAOSH Week Chair. "With the support of our North American partners - CCOHS, HRSDC and ASSE, the CSSE is proud to acknowledge the leadership and dedication of occupational safety and health professionals across the country. The NAOSH Week slogan and theme, 'Safety and Health: A Commitment for Life! Start Today!' remind us of the importance of safe practices, at work and at home and challenge all of us to improve our processes, programs and performance in occupational health and safety."

"This year's NAOSH theme of 'Start Today' reminds us that efforts to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses can't wait", remarked Len Hong, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. "We must work harder to embrace and implement safe work practices, foster a culture of prevention and reduce risks to keep people safe and healthy. And we must start today! The quest to eliminate fatalities, injuries and diseases from the workplace never stops ... but starts with us all."

"Finding ways to prevent injury and illness in the workplace is an integral part of keeping Canada's labour force strong, healthy and competitive", said Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Federal Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec. "Working with our partners, we are building a stronger workforce and a better Canada for the future."

NAOSH Week is sponsored by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, in cooperation with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, the Government of Canada and other federal, provincial and territorial governments, along with the American Society of Safety Engineers.

SOURCE: NAOSH