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Online Contest a Winning Formula for Construction Safety(Canada Newswire English Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Attention News Editors/See CNW Photo Network and Archive VANCOUVER, Feb. 27 /CNW/ - The Construction Safety Association of BC (CSABC) has developed a winning formula to reach construction workers with the information they need to stay safe in the workplace. Thanks to an innovative online contest introduced by CSABC and its industry partners, safety in the workplace in now even more 'top of mind' for construction workers across the province. Announcing the winner at a special presentation, Cathy Lange, CSABC Executive Director said that the contest demonstrates how industry partners can make a difference when they collaborate to achieve results. In September 2008, the Construction Safety Association of BC partnered with the Toyota BC Dealers Association and BC Construction Association (BCCA) to offer an exclusive, online contest. Designed to test the construction industry's safety knowledge through WorkSafeBC Toolbox Talks, the contest generated an immense online response, attracting more than 77,800 entries from across the province. Today, one lucky entrant is driving away a winner. Aaron Rath of Coquitlam was awarded a 2009 Toyota Tundra Truck courtesy of the Toyota BC Dealers Association. "We are delighted to congratulate Aaron Rath and present him with a new 2009 Toyota Tundra," said Toyota Pacific Zone Manager, James Orr. "The Tundra delivers enough power and reliability to handle any job, so it's the perfect prize for someone who works in the construction industry." Toyota has maintained a great relationship with the industry and is proud to be the Official Truck of the BC Construction Association. "I still can't believe that I won the truck," said Aaron Rath who works for PAX Construction Ltd. "I initially entered the contest to see if there was any workplace safety information that I didn't already know. The contest encouraged us to go into the WorkSafeBC Toolbox Talks where I learned to be more aware of my surroundings in the workplace and the equipment required for personal protection." The construction industry has been identified by WorkSafeBC as having a greater risk of injuries and fatalities than other industry sectors; hundreds of accidents happen in construction every year. With many of these accidents preventable through awareness and training, CSABC and their partners, the Toyota BC Dealers Association and BCCA, hoped the contest would help make a difference by bringing the safety message home to workers. Starting September 8, 2008, a different safety-related question was featured at www.csabc.ca each week for 14 weeks. Each question was linked to a WorkSafeBC Toolbox Meeting Guide where contest entrants could find the answer and learn about a construction safety-related topic, such as fall protection or overexertion. "The contest proved to be a successful and innovative way of testing the construction industry's safety knowledge, increasing exposure to WorkSafeBC's Toolbox Talks and overall awareness of staying safe in the construction workplace," explained Cathy Lange, CSABC Executive Director. Don Schouten, Construction Manager for the Industry and Labour Services Department at WorkSafeBC, pointed out that a record number of downloads of Toolbox Talks attests to the success of the online initiative. During the contest, downloads of Toolbox Talks tripled from an average of 14,000 per month to 43,000 during the month of November. Recognizing that safety is an issue that affects all of its members, the BC Construction Association also endorsed the contest. "It is increasingly important to our members to find ways to increase awareness of on site safety among their employees. This innovative approach to introducing safety training topics to workers and the amazing response from workers illustrates the importance of using new ways to impact overall awareness and construction workplace safety. This contest proved that point and the importance of developing new partnerships in workplace safety," said Manley McLachlan, President of BCCA. About CSABC: The Construction Safety Association of British Columbia is the construction industry's trusted partner in construction safety training. A non-profit organization owned and operated by the construction industry of British Columbia, CSABC builds safety through training, offering a range of safety courses that provides safety training at all levels - owner, manager, supervisor and worker, and includes STAR COR, a WorkSafeBC incentive rebate program. About BCCA: The BC Construction Association represents approximately 2,000 companies in an industry that employs 140,000 British Columbians and represents 15 per cent of the provincial GDP. Membership includes general contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and allied services, who are primarily involved in the institutional, commercial and industrial sectors. About WorkSafeBC: An independent provincial statutory agency that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers, WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces, and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits. << /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca. Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/ >> Cathy Lange at [email protected] or (604) 434-3222 Copyright ? 2009 Canada Newswire Ltd. All Rights Reserved. |