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Every day, 200 Canadian workers sustain eye injuries on the job, often resulting in lost time and, in some cases, either temporary or permanent vision loss. The majority of these eye injuries could have been prevented if workers had been wearing proper eye protection.
WorkSafe Saskatchewan and CNIB have signed a three year partnership agreement to provide injury prevention presentations and safety glasses to schools throughout Saskatchewan.
John Rafferty, President and CEO of CNIB said, “Seventy five per cent of sight loss is preventable. Partnerships, such as this one with WorkSafe, help CNIB get its message into schools, homes and the community through the students.”
Knowledge is power in the fight against vision loss. There are many preventative measures you can take to keep your eyes healthy:
- Have your eyes examined regularly by an eye-care professional.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet.
- Wear proper sunglasses and safety glasses.
At the school safety presentations, students get two pairs of safety glasses: one for themselves and one to pass on to a friend or family member, sharing both the importance of eye protection and the right for every worker to know about potential hazards in the workplace. The majority of all eye conditions causing blindness could be prevented with proper education and precautionary steps.
Workers’ Compensation Board CEO Peter Federko says, “The school presentations are a great opportunity to engage youth in safety discussions and build community support. We believe attitudes and behaviours don’t change if the home or community doesn’t support what we teach at school.” Federko adds, “The program intends to educate and create an opportunity for youth and their communities to engage in safe activities.”
On April 15, 2013 CNIB recognized WorkSafe and the WCB for its partnership by presenting a plaque to David Eberle and Peter Federko.
