NAOSH Week 2008

Safety and Health – A Commitment for Life! Start today – Live it Everyday!

The Canadian launch of NAOSH Week 2008 was held in our nation's capital at the National Arts Centre on Monday, May 5th.

The goal: 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.

NAOSH Week is led by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), in concert with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and partners in Mexico.

This event marked the beginning of NAOSH Week 2008 with keynote presentations by Minister Blackburn, Christopher Patton- ASSE, Mr. Steven Mahoney, Chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Ms. Rosemarie Leclair, President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa Limited, David Needham, Division Director from the Safety Health & Environment Management (SHEM) office at the US State Department in Washington DC and Shirley Hickman, Executive Director of Threads of Life. The room at the arts center was packed and energized. I hosted the event at the Arts Centre, with George Pappas being my side kick providing translation into our second language.



Post launch, the USA embassy hosted a luncheon and tour of their facilities that emphasized the importance of relationships, as well as the importance of the topic. The Ambassador of the United States, Mr. David Wilkins was a wonderful host.

The Canadian NAOSH Week Committee includes representatives from all over Canada. This committee is responsible for the ongoing development and coordination of NAOSH Week in Canada, to ensure, sustain and further advance the goals of NAOSH Week. Contact your representative on this Committee for information about NAOSH Week events and activities in your region: Chair- Andrew Cooper ; Alberta/NWT/Nunavut - Reinhard Dunse & Barrie Harrison; British Columbia/Yukon - Jim Hopkins & Kathy Tull; Vice-Chair- Dawn Perrin; Atlantic Region - Deirdre O'Reilly & Bill Nichol; Saskatchewan/Manitoba - Terry Daly & Philip Cain; Ontario - Leonard Maccarone, Anita Dubey, & Rick Tilley.

The NAOSH Week launch 2008 planning Committee worked very well with the National Committee and the local contacts to ensure a wonderful event. A special thanks goes out to them – Steve Clouthier, Don Neville, Chloe Black, Kimberly Blaney, Jan Fralick, Monette Hache, Leonard Maccarone, George Pappas, Dawn Perrin, Dianne Tolgyesi, and Eleanor Westwood. I am sure all those who attended the Launch are happy that I am writing the names and not trying to pronounce them again. I do also want to acknowledge the staff support for this project – Jan Fralick is the foundation piece within the launch events. Thank you all - for all your hard work that was key in the success of this event.



Our Secretary – Andrew Cooper – was invited to and attended NAOSH Week Launch in the United States hosted by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) in Washington, D.C. at the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Headquarters on May 5, 2008. Participants included ASSE, CSSE, OSHA officials, and staff and OSHA Alliance Program Partners. The children who were winners in the ASSE’s Safety on the Job Poster Contest and their families form a large part of the focus of the day’s activities. The agenda included addresses from the OSHA Deputy Administrator Don Shalhoub, ASSE president Michael Thompson, and our Andrew Cooper. The event was followed by a reception in the Capitol Building hosted by the ASSE and included awards ceremony for the poster contest winners. Andrew also addressed the people at this gathering. One of the winners in the ASSE poster contest was a Canadian Meghan Baker from New Brunswick – her father works at McCain Foods in Florenceville, NB. Some photos of the ASSE NAOSH Week events are below:

CSSE Secretary, Andrew Cooper poses with ASSE President, Mike Thompson and the winners of the ASSE's Safety-on-the-Job Poster Contest at the US OSHA Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Andrew Cooper, Canadian Poster Winner - Meghan Baker, ASSE President - Mike Thompson

Andrew Cooper speaking at the US OSHA Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Andrew Cooper and Meghan Baker pose with her winning poster

Thank you to everyone who submitted your organization's events to the NAOSH Week website. We look forward to NAOSH Week 2009!