WSIB Twitter campaign shows it ‘pays to be safe’

TORONTO—The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has launched a #PracticeSafeWork Twitter Contest, which gives young workers in Ontario an opportunity to showcase their health and safety knowledge for a chance to win daily and weekly cash prizes.

Workers between the ages of 15 to 24 can submit images that demonstrate their safe work practices using the hashtag #PracticeSafeWork.

"Young worker health and safety is everyone’s business and educating young workers about health and safety in the workplace is critical to reducing and eliminating injuries and fatalities," said Elizabeth Witmer, chair, WSIB in a statement. "We must keep raising awareness of the need to keep our workplaces healthy and safe."

The contest runs through to Sept. 2 and is open to legal residents of Canada who live in Ontario. It is being run in both official languages.

"Participants are encouraged to garner support from their employer and peers on the job — and to be particularly safe and vigilant about taking and sharing photographs while working," a release reads.

Young workers can follow @WSIB (English Twitter account) or @CSPAAT (French Twitter account) to participate.

According to the WSIB, new and young workers are three times more likely to be injured during their first month of work than at any other time.

The social media campaign comes just after the Ministry of Labour’s annual young worker summer safety blitz.

For more information about the #PracticeSafeWork contest, visit www.practicesafework.ca.