Children of city workers urge motorists to "Slow Down" near public work areas
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Vernon, B.C., November 30, 2009 — Today, WorkSafeBC and the City of Vernon unveil signs that encourage drivers to slow down near public worksites and protect workers from potential injury.
The large signs feature photographs of City of Vernon workers and their children, aged 4 to 13. The signs, mounted on city trucks, are part of a new "Slow Down" campaign – a roadside safety initiative aimed at public drivers to get them to slow down when in proximity to city crews.
“WorkSafeBC’s 'Slow Down' campaign is an important event, and the City of Vernon endorses this initiative wholeheartedly,” says Wayne Lippert, mayor for the City of Vernon. “We’re really very proud that the children of some of our Operations staff are with us today to launch their posters for this effective campaign. We have over 50 staff at work on our streets on any given day, and in all kinds of weather, so each of us needs to do what we can to eliminate the risk of injury and to keep them safe.”
Cassidy (age 11) and Haleigh (age 12) – daughters of Jim Erickson, a pump operator who works for the City of Vernon – will unveil a 6'x3' sign of their family featuring the slogan, "Slow down, our dad works here." Four other families will also unveil similar signs.
"When you experience a near miss with a motor vehicle, you realize that your kids almost lost their dad," says Erickson. "I'm part of this campaign because I want to make it home to my girls everyday."
Vernon joins 20 other “Slow Down” municipal, construction and road-building campaign partners across B.C. Metro Vancouver, the City of Pitt Meadows, the Township of Langley, and the City of Vancouver all feature workers on their City works trucks while the construction and road-building partners focus is on roadside signage to slow traffic in work zones.
"Working near the road can be dangerous," says Shawn Mitton, WorkSafeBC's regional prevention manager for Kelowna. "With the winter season fast approaching, these signs remind drivers to pay extra attention while travelling near job sites."
Launched in July 2007, the campaign features photographs of workers and their families. More than 130 signs have been placed throughout the province on prominent road-building and construction projects such as Kelowna's William R. Bennett Bridge, Prince George's Simon Fraser Bridge, the Kicking Horse Canyon project near Golden and the Gateway Project in the Lower Mainland.
"Workers tell us that the campaign works," says Mitton."When the signs go up, they notice drivers slowing down and being more patient as they travel through work areas."
Those who work near public motorists are often assisted by traffic control persons (TCPs) who direct vehicles through a work area. Because they are usually the first point of contact for drivers, TCPs are especially vulnerable while at work. From 2004-2008, WorkSafeBC accepted a total of 417 claims which included short- and long-term disability, as well as fatalities.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
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| Gladys Johnsen |
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