MySafeWork takes message to EllisDon Halifax worksite

HALIFAX—EllisDon invited MySafeWork on the road, specifically to Halifax, where EllisDon’s Nova Centre jobsite was set to host the third stop of the Next Level Safety plan with the signing of a MySafeWork’s symbol of workplace safety, the Jersey of Courage, on May 17.

Industry leaders in workplace safety were invited to join EllisDon and MySafeWork to demonstrate their commitment to safety, the EllisDon media statement explained. It was the third stop on the nationwide tour, with Ottawa and Toronto being the first two stops.

Created by Rob Ellis, founder of MySafeWork, the Jersey of Courage is intended to be a mobile safety charter, used to engage employees and students to discuss issues surrounding workplace safety.

With over 500,000 signatures collected, each signature represents a commitment to making Canada the world’s safest place to work, indicates the statement.

"This is an important event that will raise the standard of safety performance across Canada and ultimately save lives," said Rob Ellis.

"It takes courage for employees to say no to unsafe work — and it takes courage for companies to step up and lead in this area."

"We can and must commit ourselves to a new, higher standard of safety — not only EllisDon employees, but every single person on our jobsites," said Geoff Smith, EllisDon president and CEO.

"Safety is more important than making money, more important than making schedule, more important than client service, it is more important than absolutely anything."

Speakers at the event included Scott Nauss, senior director of compliance and inspection services for the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education, and Stuart MacLean, chief executive officer for the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.