Preventable injury is the number one cause of death of Canadians under the age of 35, a sobering thought to bear in mind on July 5, National Injury Prevention Day.
One of OPSEU’s most important duties is to ensure the health and safety of our members and the members of the public we serve. Not only do we take that responsibility seriously, it’s a passion for all 165,000 of us.
We have a long history of fighting for improved workplace health and safety standards. All workers deserve protection, and no one should go to work afraid of injury, harm or even death. During the last four months of the COVID-19 pandemic, OPSEU members and staff have burned the midnight oil on many nights, working to ensure front-line public sector workers and Ontarians can be kept as safe as possible.
The health and safety measures we fight for in the workplace often have a ripple effect outside the workplace. Since one child dies from a preventable injury every day on average, it’s all the more rewarding if the work we do indirectly leads to saving the lives of young people.
A leading injury-prevention advocate in Canada is the non-profit group Parachute. It sponsors the Light Up Canada campaign to raise awareness around preventing injuries.
Many Canadian municipalities have pledged support for National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD) and on Sunday will light up major landmarks in a distinctive “Parachute green”. You too can raise awareness around injury prevention by sharing your support online with the hashtags: #ParachuteNIPD and #TurnSafetyOn.
Making workplaces and our province safer for everyone is one of the most important legacies we can leave for future generations.
President Warren (Smokey) Thomas
First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida