May 5, 2013

MANITOBA SUPPORTS WORKERS, FAMILES AFFECTED BY WORKPLACE INJURY: HOWARD

Manitoba will provide $10,000 to Threads of Life, a non-profit organization that supports workers and families affected by workplace injuries and illnesses, Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard announced today at an event in Kildonan Park.
“Workers and families affected by workplace injuries truly benefit from the compassionate and specialized supports available through Threads of Life,” said Howard.  “We believe every worker in Manitoba deserves to go home safely but, until that goal is a reality, it’s important to know there is an organization staffed by caring volunteers to support workers and their families.”
Threads of Life is a national network of volunteers who have been personally affected by a workplace tragedy.  In partnership with provincial governments and workers’ compensation boards, they help families through:

• offering personalized support to family members and friends who have suffered from a workplace tragedy;
• organizing regional forums for families to build coping, listening and healing skills;
• connecting families to professional support services; and
• providing opportunities to speak about injury prevention and creating awareness through public speaking and other events.

The organization is holding a Steps for Life Family Walk in Kildonan Park today to raise awareness, featuring a memory lane of signs to honour and remember victims of workplace injuries.
The province recently announced a strategic action plan to prevent workplace injury and illness, which includes plans to:

• double funding for prevention services,
• invest in resources that will ensure every high school student has access to workplace health and safety information,
• require mandatory safety orientation for new workers, and
• provide more ways for the public to report unsafe workplaces including a one-stop phone number for reporting unsafe workplace or injuries.

Complete details on the province’s action plan are available online at: www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/index.html.
More information about Threads of Life is available at http://threadsoflife.ca/.

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