A major North American bus manufacturer was the site of the Canadian launch of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week 2009 on Monday, May 4. NAOSH week, being observed in Canada, the US and Mexico, runs through Saturday, May 9.

“I believe the selection for us to host this event was based on New Flyers’ creativity and focus on occupational safety and health, in addition to it (the company) being well-known and one of the larger employers in Winnipeg,” said Rob Beal, safety coordinator for New Flyer Industries Canada ULC..

New Flyer, which employs nearly 1,400 workers in Winnipeg, MB, and hundreds more in St. Cloud and Crookston, MN, was selected as the Canadian launch site by the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE).

During NAOSH Week 2009, New Flyer is closely following NAOSH’s “Make it Home Safe—Every Day” theme, with events that include:

• A boater safety course;
• A presentation on how to avoid back pain;
• A talk by Cindy Skanderberg, a mother who lost a son in a workplace incident;
• A plant barbecue;
• A Play the Game of a Safe Life event;
• Ergonomic desk evaluations;
• Information on distracted driving; and
• A jousting event.

The company earned a local NAOSH “best new entry” award for its efforts in promoting Occupational Safety and Health during NAOSH week 2008.

Beal says New Flyer worked to provide creative, fun and educational events as part of the 2008 observance’s fire safety and prevention theme. Those activities were enjoyed not only by its New Flyer employees, but also by workers’ family members. Some of the events held last year supported Winnipeg charity organizations including the Safety Workers of Tomorrow and the Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.

Activities during NAOSH Week 2008 included a lift truck rodeo with a fire prevention theme; a Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services display; a fire prevention dunk tank; fire extinguisher training for workers and guest speaker Ed Wiebe, a firefighter who suffered critical burns in a February 2007 St. Boniface, MB, fire that claimed the lives of two Winnipeg fire captains.

“We are very honored to have been selected as host location for 2009,” said Beal prior to the launch. “Hosting the event will allow us to be part of the ongoing efforts in our community to promote safety and health for our workers, their families, business associates and others in your community.”

Beal added that safety is New Flyer’s number one operating principle and “Our philosophy is that the health and safety of all New Flyer employees is an integral part of everything we do.”

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