Is your workplace safe for EVERYbody?

Hello

This November is the 25th anniversary of Take Our Kids To Work Day . The annual event is a great opportunity to introduce young people to a wide variety of career options. It’s also an ideal time to think about the safety of visitors to your workplace.

Safety for visitors = safer for all

Once all your employees clock out and head home for the day, as a safety person you likely breathe a sigh of relief -- everybody’s safe for one more day. But have you ever considered the hazards that exist for a stranger on your site, when you’re not there? John Petropoulos was a police officer in Calgary. He was investigating a break-in complaint at a warehouse when he stepped on an unmarked false ceiling, fell through to the floor below and died of brain injuries. Likely everyone working in that warehouse knew not to walk there, but John didn’t. What hazards does your workplace hold that could harm a visitor? Imagine if police officers or firefighters had to move through your site. What about that shaky stair railing or the propane tank stored in the furnace room? Making the workplace safe for potential visitors also makes it safer for those who work there every day. John’s widow Maryanne Pope is a member of the Threads of Life speakers bureau and wrote a column about healing for other widows in our recent newsletter . She also helped to launch a memorial fund in John's honour.

Read Maryanne's column

When the worst happens, what do you do?

No one wants a workplace tragedy to happen – a work-related fatality or serious injury exact a huge emotional and economic cost. But if the worst does happen, the way you respond as an organization can make a difference to the family of an injured or deceased worker.

Threads of Life’s report, "Workplace tragedy: Employer communication and crisis response" is based on a survey of Threads of Life members who have experienced work-related injury or death in their families. The report provides some clear steps an employer can follow to connect with and support the family after a tragedy.

Download our report

Thank a sponsor

What do 160 companies across Canada have in common? Large and small, century-old and brand-new, big-city and small-town, in every line of business imaginable, they were all sponsors of Steps for Life-Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy in 2019.

That’s 160 businesses and organizations that all share a passion for safety and a concern for families affected by workplace tragedy. Many companies come back year after year, and new ones join their ranks, thanks to the volunteers who pound the pavement to secure sponsorships in every community.

Thank you, sponsors, for making a difference!

Community Champions ($2,000 sponsorship) – Prints one issue of our quarterly newsletter Threads, distributed to family members, supporters, government and corporate partners. Threads offers family members a chance to share their story and learn about grief and healing, and about Threads of Life programs and events.
Community Leaders ($1,500 sponsorship) – Allows one family member to travel to attend training for the Threads of Life speakers bureau. Threads of Life speakers deliver a powerful message about health and safety at conferences, safety meetings and schools – because they know all too well the consequences when something goes wrong at work.
Community Supporters ($1,000 sponsorship) – Provides meals and accommodations for two family members to attend a family forum. Threads of Life family forums are where people affected by workplace tragedies gather to heal and to discover they’re not alone.
Community Advocate ($500 sponsorship) – Rents a venue and provides materials for one community peer support group. Peer groups are safe spaces where those grieving a work-related tragedy can connect with others and learn to live with their loss.
Stepping Forward ($250 sponsorship) – Covers the cost of one month’s phone bills so that Threads of Life staff can respond when families reach out for help.

For further sponsorship opportunities visit our website or call 888-567-9490.

Become a sponsor!

On our blog:

World Mental Health Day: Practicing What We Preach

When I started Threads of Life, it was to provide support programs for family members living with the outcome of workplace life-altering injury, occupational diseases or outcomes of fatal injuries, such as the tragedy that our family is living with.

Read more
threadsoflife.ca

Here's #MyWhy. What's yours?

In fact, my "why" has certainly changed over the years. In the beginning, my why was more professionally based, maybe more straight forward. Several years ago, I was employed by a Steps for Life sponsor and as part of a company initiative I...

Read more
threadsoflife.ca

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