Dear Editor;

Hundreds of Canadian workers lose their lives each year to workplace accidents, and over 3 million workers world wide lose their lives to workplace accidents each year, but proof of a better future is at hand. In the past 8 weeks local, national and international FIRST Robotics Teams have competed for the title of Industrial Safety Award winner. In our region alone, teams from Kincardine, Walkerton, Wingham, and Goderich showed excellent safety leadership, and across Ontario teams from places such as Oakville, Peterborough, and Sarnia showed the same leadership and Gracious Professionalism.

How does this connect with Day of Mourning, a day set aside on the 28th of April each year in over 40 countries around the globe to remember workers killed and injured on the job? It is simple, this quest for this award exemplifies the desire of our young people to take our world to a better place. The award is not the goal it is the symbol; these young people have recognized that safety is a life skill that needs to be integrated into everyday life and their skill at the competitions has permitted them to show their skills and expertise. Imagine how safe and how they will look after each other in tomorrow's workplace. Now, take that one step further and imagine the same desire manifested to lower the numbers quoted to begin this letter and it is easy to see the hope for a better and safer workplace.

Do these young people hold the entire future in their hands? No, responsible employers, forward thinking unions and health and safety activists, and compassionate politicians amongst many will also drive this forward.

On April 28th take time to mourn for the dead and fight for the living as we remember all those killed and injured in workplaces, but also look to the future with a degree of hope as not only this program, but the numerous others found in the such organizations as the Worker Health and Safety Centre, WSIB, Ministry of Labour, and Boards of Education to Name but a few do their part.

Dave Trumble
President
Grey-Bruce
Labour Council