News Release                                                                   For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                                October 28, 2005

Injuries cost 14.7 billion dollars annually; can you afford it?

 Dr. Robert Conn the head of SMARTRISK Canada’s national injury prevention program is keynote speaker at an upcoming workshop Stay on Your Feet ~ Avoiding Workplace Falls/Injury ~ Safety for You and Your Client.  The workshop is designed for health care workers, volunteers and health and safety committees.

The workshop takes place November 18, 2005 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 271 Bruce Street North, Durham.

Dr. Conn says injuries are predictable and preventable, not ‘accidents’ or acts of fate.

Smartrisk calculates injuries cost the Canadian economy $14.7 billion dollars annually.

Dora Pender from The Health Care Health and Safety Association of Ontario will examine the elements of a slip and falls program and sharing the responsibility. There are four additional workshops.

Registration fee for this workshop is $25 for employees, $15 for volunteers. This includes lunch and snacks. The workshop is subsidized by a grant from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. Registration is available by phone at Public Health, 376-9420, ext. 401 or 881-1920, ext. 246.

For further information visit the ‘Events’ section of our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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Attachments:

1) Background Information: Avoiding Workplace Falls/Injury.  Safety for You and Your Client

2) Avoiding Workplace Falls

For more information:

Marguerite Thomas, PHN

Grey Bruce Health Unit

Walkerton ON

N0G 2V0

519-881-1920 Ext. 246

·         Alzheimer Society,

·         Canadian Red Cross

·         Closing the Gap Healthcare Group

·         Community Care Access Centre

·         Grey Bruce Focus Project, Grey Bruce Health Services

·         Grey Bruce Partners in Health

·         Grey Bruce District Stroke Centre

·         Hanover and District Hospital

·         Home and Community Support Services

·         Meaford Long Term Care

·         ParaMed Home Health Care

·         Rockwood Terrace

·         VON Grey Bruce

·         Mackhall Mobility Products

·         Arjo Canada Inc.