THE ORANGEVILLE AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL held its annual Health and Safety Activists Dinner last week at the Best Western. Evelyn Burgess, second from left, was awarded for the theme poster she created and Heike Schiller, second from right. Also in the photo are Workplace Health and Safety representative Patrick Williams and the ODLC's Laurie Heimbecker. Even though the economy is faltering and job security is almost nonexistent, one must always press for a safe and healthy workplace.

That was the message delivered last Friday at the fourth Volunteer Health and Safety Activists' Dinner at the Best Western Inn & Suites.

The purpose of the annual event is to stress the need for adequate health, safety and accessibility in the workplace and to award those whose efforts make it possible.

Keynote speaker Clarence MacPherson said many who have experienced a workplace injury find Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims so exasperating and intimidating that they don't go through with them.

The administration and communications co-ordinator for the Occupational Disability Response Team (ODRT), Mr. MacPherson pointed to a recent McMaster University study which concluded that 50 per cent of workplace injuries go unreported.

"And of those claims that are made, 20 per cent are abandoned," he said. "The pressure can be overwhelming."

The ODRT is a not-forprofit project set up by the Ontario Federation of Labour in 1990 to provide workers and their representatives with workplace insurance training and support.

Its aim is to ensure the well-being of Ontario workers and their entitlement to workplace insurance benefits. The ODRT offers multi-level training on WSIB Rights & Obligations (Level I), Benefits & Representation (Level II), Appeals & Dispute Resolution (Level III), Return to Work, Medical Orientation and Occupational Disease.

Brian Heimbecker, who was the ODRT's plaque recipient at the dinner, said considerable funds are required in these financially tight times to ensure proper health and safety standards are in place, as well as accessibility for those with various disabilities.

"Still, society is about caring for the most vulnerable," said Mr. Heimbecker. "You can't skimp when it comes to health and safety and caring for your work force."

Teacher Heike Schiller, this year's recipient of the health and safety activist's plaque, suggested it was a case of either pay now or pay later.

"When you think about the loss of productivity and the cost of people being absent, it's going to cost more in the long run if people keep getting hurt."

She said the point is to make workplaces safe "so people won't be going to the WSIB. If we prevent injuries from happening, there's no financial burden to anybody."

Evelyn Burgess, an Orangeville District Secondary School student, won the poster contest for her entry depicting this reminder for workers to be vigilant on the work site. The poster, which she created while a student at Princess Margaret Public School, said: "Workplace Safety is not a movie. There's no take two."