20 YEARS: NAOSH WEEK 2017
NAOSH Week focuses on making safety a habit
During the 20th annual North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week from May 7-13, organizers are reminding people in the workplace to “Make Safety a Habit for Your Career.”
The goal of NAOSH Week is to focus employers, employees, partners and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community.
“One of the keys to workplace safety is participation and making sure everybody’s getting on board,” said Andrea Crittenden, NAOSH Week coordinator for the Northern Light Chapter of The Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, which serves the northern half of the province of Saskatchewan.
“Bottom line: it’s about going home at the end of the day to your loved ones. You might get eye rolls when you say that, but genuinely that’s what it’s about. Workers shouldn’t have to sacrifice their lives to an employer just to get the job done.”
There are a number of special events planned in Regina and Saskatoon during NAOSH Week.
The week kicks off with Steps for Life walks in Regina and Saskatoon on May 7. The Regina event starts at the Totem Pole in Lakeshore Park and gets underway at 11 a.m. In Saskatoon, the walk kicks off at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre at 1 p.m. The walk is the flagship fundraiser of the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support – known as Threads of Life – which supports the healing journey of families who have suffered from a workplace fatality, traumatic life-altering injury, or occupational disease. If you’re interested in getting involved or would like more information, email steps@threadsoflife.ca.
“The person who suffers a workplace injury or fatality is not the only one who’s affected,” Crittenden said. “There are also the family members who are left behind or left with the consequences of the situation that occurs. They are just as affected as well, because if their loved one is not coming home at the end of the day, that leaves a big void in their lives.”
Luncheons in support of NAOSH Week are being held on May 8 in Regina (Conexus Arts Centre, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and May 9 in Saskatoon (Prairieland Park – Terrace, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The events feature guest speaker Dan Comiskey, whose keynote will be heavily weighted in safety habits and habit change.
Comiskey, who spent 12 years playing in the CFL and earned two Grey Cup rings, is a strong advocate of workplace safety. During his football career, Comiskey’s stepbrother passed in an industrial incident. Less than one year from Comiskey’s retirement, his father-in-law suffered a permanent brain injury in the workplace. Comiskey himself has suffered multiple concussions, a torn tricep, a torn calf and a broken leg during his time in football.
“When I looked at how workplaces were operating, I realized there are a lot of errors in how we’re approaching safety,” Comiskey said. “I made the leap and started developing leadership training programs near the end of my CFL career.”
Comiskey has spent the past six years working as a behavioural safety specialist in the heavy oil industry in Northern Alberta. Through his company, Safety Lead (www.safetylead.net), he offers keynote presentations, training, coaching and video creation.
“One of the most important things regarding workplace safety is ensuring everyone is personally accountable,” Comiskey said. “Whether it means wearing safety goggles, following lock-out-tag-out procedures, or protecting yourself from electricity, everything comes down to people buying in. You have to walk the walk, and when you see somebody not following safety practices you have to intervene and make a difference.”
He added that “if the safety leader is not wearing safety goggles, why would the employee? If the safety leader notices an employee not wearing safety goggles and doesn’t say anything, the employee will assume they don’t care. There are little choices people make every day in the workplace and these decisions can affect your teammates and your family.”
On May 10, Grade 9 students at Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon will take part in the Amazing Safety Quest, an educational and interactive event established by the Saskatchewan Safety Council. It aims to help create a culture of safety among youth in the province by sharing injury prevention strategies and informing young workers of the extreme importance of workplace safety.
The week wraps up with a barbeque on May 12 at the CNH Place-Saskatoon Training Centre in Saskatoon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“This is a great event for people who have an interest or are concerned about safety in the workplace,” Crittenden said. “There will be some great displays from associations and vendors that showcase personal protective equipment and other tools of the trade. Prizes will be awarded and of course we’ll also serve up some really good burgers.”
Crittenden, who has been involved with NAOSH Week for six years, said the event continues to build momentum.
“As more people find out about it and more importance gets placed on occupational health and safety, more people start to participate,” she said. “It opens up people’s eyes.”
For more information on NAOSH Week, visit http:// naosh.org.