Never too early to learn about workplace safety

Take Our Kids to SAFE Work offers opportunity for safety and prevention awareness

Winnipeg – Grade nine students throughout Manitoba will have an opportunity today to learn about workplace safety as part of Take Our Kids to Work Day. This one-day job-shadowing experience offers students the chance to spend a day at work with a parent, friend, relative or sponsor.

“Training is critical. It’s never too early to start teaching tomorrow’s workforce about the importance of workplace safety,” says Peter Bjornson, Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth. “Our youth represent our future leaders and employers, and it’s key that they understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to safety.”

As part of Take Our Kids to Work Day, nearly 50 grade nine students job-shadowed staff at StandardAero, where they received workplace safety training and completed a safety quiz. An iPod Touch was randomly awarded to one student, mirroring SAFE Work’s recent ad campaign that directed youth online to experience workplace safety solutions through SAFE Work webisodes.

“We’ve put the SAFE in Take Our Kids to Work Day to emphasize our commitment to workplace safety and health,” says WCB Chair Tom Farrell. “Our hope is that parents and employers will not only discuss safety issues with their children and young workers, but also set an example for them through their own safe work practices.”

Safety and health is an integral part of the workplace culture at StandardAero, a key focus that representatives stressed to the visiting students.

“At StandardAero, workplace safety is part of all that we do, and it becomes especially important during Take Our Kids to Work Day,” says Nelson Barrett, Senior Vice-President of Services at StandardAero. “It’s up to us – as employers, co-workers, industry leaders and parents – to teach young workers that there’s no such thing as a ‘stupid question’ when it comes to workplace safety.”

SAFE Work is an injury and illness prevention strategy developed by the Workers Compensation Board and the Workplace Safety and Health Division. There are a number of resources and training programs available aimed specifically at youth which can assist in reducing workplace injuries available at www.safemanitoba.com.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is organized by the Learning Partnership, a national non-profit group dedicated to creating learning and career opportunities through collaboration with education, business and community organizations.  

StandardAero, a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) company with $1.4 billion in annual revenue, specializes in engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, and nose-to-tail services that include airframe, interior refurbishments and paint for business and general aviation, air transport, and military aircraft. The company, part of the DAE Engineering division, forms a global services network of 12 primary facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore and Australia, with an additional 14 regionally located service and support locations.                     

Contact:

Warren Preece, Director of Communications
WCB Manitoba
(204) 954-4113
wpreece@wcb.mb.ca

Mike Turner, Manager, Corporate Communications
StandardAero
(480) 377-3195

mike.turner@standardaero.com

Charlie McDougall

Cabinet Communications

(204) 945-1494

Charles.McDougall@leg.gov.mb.ca