The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Prince Edward Island was pleased to host its annual Workplace Health & Safety Conference today to another packed crowd.

“The conference is an excellent opportunity for us to come together as safety professionals, employers and workers to build a culture of workplace safety,” said Nancy Guptill, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board. “We hope that delegates will take what they learn today at the conference to develop safe work practices. Our habits, behaviours and beliefs define our culture.”

This year’s delegates were treated to an engaging presentation by Jacques Demers, as this year’s key note speaker. Throughout his storied career Mr. Demers built a name as one of the most successful coaches in the National Hockey League. After hundreds of on-ice victories across Canada and the United States, Demers went on to a thriving career as a television sports commentator. Yet during all those years behind the bench and in front of the camera, he managed to hide a remarkable fact - he could neither read nor write. Sharing his incredible story, Demers inspires others to have the courage to confront, and conquer, their greatest fears and sheds light on the thousands of people who, like him, unjustly suffer through illiteracy.

Delegates also enjoyed a customized learning experience in which they chose from a variety of sessions relevant to today’s employers, managers, supervisors and workers, and designed to promote safety skills, knowledge and awareness.

Topics included building collaborative workplaces, dealing with substance abuse in the workplace and developing Return to Work programs in your workplace, among many others.  The conference also featured a trade show of products and services from Canada’s health and safety community.

The WCB hosts the conference annually during North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week.  For more information about creating a culture of workplace safety throughout the year, visit the Safe Workplaces section of the Workers Compensation Board website at www.wcb.pe.ca  or contact the WCB office at 902-368-5680 or toll-free at 1-800-237-5049.

Danny Miller, Director of Occupational Health & Safety (R) with keynote speaker and hockey legend Jacques Demers at the 2015 Prince Edward Island Occupational Health and Safety Conference.

aussi disponible en français