FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. John’s, NL – WorkplaceNL has received the Outstanding Community Partner Award from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). WorkplaceNL was recognized for its efforts to reduce workplace-related eye injuries, especially among Newfoundland and Labrador’s skilled trades professionals.
WorkplaceNL has partnered with the CNIB on the Eye Safety Program, which brings experts into classrooms and workplaces with practical ways to avoid eye injuries, including wearing properly fitting eye protection.
In the past five years, from 2012 to 2016, work-related eye injuries in Newfoundland and Labrador have decreased 34.2 per cent, and are now at an all-time low of 0.8 per 1,000 workers.
For young workers aged 15-24 years, work-related eye injuries have decreased 50.0 per cent in the past three years, from 1.6 in 2014 to 0.8 in 2016.
“WorkplaceNL is truly honoured to be recognized by the CNIB, one of our valued community partners,” said Dennis Hogan, CEO, WorkplaceNL. “Through community-based programs, our partnership with the CNIB is helping to prevent eye injuries among young workers, and all workers, in our province.”
WorkplaceNL also works closely with the CNIB to provide accessible services to clients and members of the public, including providing materials in alternate formats such as Braille or large print.
The award was presented at the CNIB’s Annual Community Meeting on October 4, 2017.
About WorkplaceNL
Serving approximately 13,000 injured workers and 19,000 employers, WorkplaceNL administers an employer-funded, no-fault insurance system that promotes safe and healthy workplaces, provides return-to-work programs and offers fair compensation to injured workers and their dependents.
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Media contact:
Carla Riggs, Director of Communications
709.778.1590 or carla.riggs@workplacenl.ca