FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
October 3, 2008 

St. John’s, NL – SAFE Work NL’s Who Wants to Save a Life?, the new trivia game show for youth, was officially launched today at the Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre. The show, which will also travel to Labrador City, Corner Brook and St. John’s, was developed by the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (the Commission), in partnership with the Department of Education and Futures in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Youth (FINALY!).

Everyday in Newfoundland and Labrador, two young workers are injured on the job. The Commission’s goal is to empower workers, especially youth, to take action, to help foster a culture of safety throughout the province, where workplace accidents are unacceptable. SAFE Work NL’s Who Wants to Save a Life? is one of the Commission’s strategies for reaching the province’s high school students with the occupational health and safety message.

Participating teams for the launch included Exploits Valley High of Grand Falls-Windsor and Lewisporte Collegiate. The winner of the match was Lewisporte Collegiate. They will now compete in a semi-final to be held at the Grand Falls-Windsor Arts and Culture Centre on February 26, 2009, against the winner of the Labrador match (Mealy Mountain Collegiate of Happy Valley-Goose Bay or Menihek High of Labrador City).

The two Labrador teams will square off on October 17, 2008, at the Labrador City Arts and Culture Centre.

“People entering the workforce need to know the importance of workplace safety, the effects accidents have on workers, their families and communities and the role individuals have in maintaining safety in the workplace,” said Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. “I hope the participating students here today will come to appreciate the importance of engaging in safe practices at work everyday.”

"The show is truly an innovative and creative way to raise awareness among our young people about workplace safety," said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. "Enterprising students are learning the importance of workplace safety and bringing this message to audiences as they battle it out in SAFE Work NL’s Who Wants to Save a Life?.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Manager of Communications and Event Planning
Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission
Telephone: 709-778-1566, 709-689-9279 or 1-800-563-9000

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