October 10, 2006

WSIB campaign 'no accident'

BRIAN BAKER

staff writer

According to Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) and its new marketing campaign, there really are no accidents at work.

Workplace safety is up to employers and staff to promote, making their workplace environment 100 per cent accident proof.

Union Station in downtown Toronto was the backdrop for the launch of a workplace safety awareness campaign on Oct. 3.

In attendance were Steve Mahoney, WSIB Chair; Steve Peters, Minister of Labour; Rob Ellis, workplace safety advocate and bereaved father and Mag Ruffman, television contractor personality.

The advertising campaign comes in light of staggering statistics that show 277,000 people suffered injuries or illnesses at their workplaces.

Part of the campaign features two television commercials that cover occurrences of workplace injuries of a graphic nature and were created by the agency Foote, Cone & Belding.

“We don’t want to be overly harsh, but we need to shock people into understanding the staggering number of workplace injuries and fatalities,” said Steve Mahoney, WSIB chair.

“This is not going to be a feel good campaign. We won’t feel good until workplace injury and fatality numbers start to decrease.”

The main goals driving the ad campaign are to ensure that people keep workplace health and safety in mind, and to take action in maintaining safe workplace environments.

A new website, www.prevent-it.ca has been established to provide a valuable resource of information on workplace safety.

Mahoney said the initiative was not to lay blame on any one person or company, but rather to make everyone aware of possible dangers.

“No family should have to get the knock on the door that tells them that their wife, husband, mother, father, son or daughter has died at work or has been severely injured.”

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