Toronto, ON, Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - In a one-hour presentation, more than 15,000 Toronto high school students will hear an inspiring message that could possibly save their lives.
On Friday, April 28th, 2006, starting at 10:00 a.m., the Toronto District School
Board (TDSB) and well-known youth worker health and safety advocate Rob Ellis will host the Second Annual Safety Simulcast Event. More than 26 teams of presidents and senior executives from some of Ontario´s leading corporations will come together to share their knowledge about workplace safety with students across the city.
"Young workers need to know that they have a legal right to a safe workplace," Ontario Minister of Labour Steve Peters said. "And the entire community - parents, teachers, and employers - have the responsibility to ensure they are informed of these rights."
Students from the 25 participating TDSB secondary schools will have an opportunity, through a videotaped presentation, to walk with Rob Ellis through the tragic experience of losing his son, Dave, as a result of a workplace incident in 1999. Ellis discusses the issues of safety in the workplace and encourages students to have the courage to ask their employer tough questions. This call to action is immediately put to practice when students get an opportunity to confront senior-level executives in a question and answer period following the video.
"The Toronto District School Board puts a great deal of effort into ensuring the safety of our students while in our schools," said Sheila Ward, Chair of the TDSB. "But the safety of our students when they enter the workforce is equally important. We applaud the efforts of Rob Ellis in educating our students about workplace safety so that no other parent will have to suffer as he did."
Relatively unknown to most Ontario residents, youth work injury and fatality rates are traditionally higher than that of the overall workforce, with approximately 49,000 young workers reported injured each year.
According to Jim Hankinson, President and CEO of Ontario Power Generation, "We have an obligation to share our commitment to safety with the next generation of workers, whether they are employed in our generation facilities or not. Young worker safety is an area where all of us, including our unions, regulators, educators and community associations, have a common goal".
This multi-media, interactive event, taking place on the eve of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, April 30 - May 6, 2006, will be followed by a luncheon at the TDSB, 1Civic Center Court, in Etobicoke. Participants will discuss the impact of the event and the future of occupational health and safety.
For further information, contact:
Senior Communications Officer, Communications and Public Affairs
Toronto District School Board
416.397.3849
Communications Director
Our Youth At Work (Rob Ellis)
416.399.3565