JANUARY 30, 2006 – TORONTO, ON – The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) today launched a multi-media workplace health and safety campaign. The WSIB is building on the message of past campaigns that all workplace injuries and illnesses are preventable, and is using advertising to keep that message foremost in the minds of target audiences.
The campaign incorporates emotive TV, radio and print advertising highlighting the effects of workplace injuries and illnesses not just on individual workers, but on their families, co-workers, friends and communities. The goal is not only to raise awareness but also to change attitudes and inspire people to take action to make workplaces healthier and safer.
“Awareness about the importance of workplace health and safety is growing in Ontario, but there’s still much work to be done,” says Jill Hutcheon, WSIB President and Interim Chair. “Even though Ontario is one of the safest places to work in the world, there are still too many serious injuries and deaths on the job.”
The statistics are alarming. Every week in Ontario:
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5,400 people suffer a preventable work-related injury, including 1,800 injuries serious enough to make a worker miss time on the job.
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Three people suffer amputations.
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Two people die of work-related injuries.
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Four people die of occupational illnesses.
“All workplace injury and illness is preventable. This is a serious social concern that touches us all,” says Hutcheon. “Safe workplaces not only mean better health and quality of life for workers and their families, they also mean more profitable and successful businesses for employers.”
The advertisements promote the WSIB’s website address: www.wsib.on.ca, along with a toll-free phone number: 1-888-921-WSIB as sources to obtain additional information or resources. The website contains extensive health and safety information for workers and employers. This WSIB marketing campaign targets all Ontarians, and appears in both English and French languages.
About WSIB
Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board plays a key role in the province’s occupational health and safety system. The WSIB administers no-fault workplace insurance for employers and their workers and is committed to the prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses. The WSIB provides disability benefits, monitors the quality of health care, and assists in early and safe return to work for workers who are injured on the job or contract an occupational disease. Information on the WSIB is also available at our website: www.wsib.on.ca.
Tags: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
