Labour, Employer and Government Panel to Discuss Gaps in Workplace Health and Safety

HAMILTON, ON (August 16, 2007) - The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has added a panel discussion to the program for the national forum being held in Vancouver, British Columbia, September 17-18, 2007.

Denis St-Jean, National Health and Safety Officer, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC); Alec Farquhar, Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Branch, Ontario Ministry of Labour; and Wallace Baer President and CEO, Enform will engage in a dialogue about the gaps in protection, accountability and responsibility for worker health and safety following a plenary session on the same topic by Katherine Lippel, professor of law at University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. They will explore how our existing laws and traditional definitions apply to non-standard work arrangements including self-employment, and part-time, temporary and seasonal employment. The panel will also touch on ideas and solutions for protecting workers, and will field questions from Forum delegates.

With "Emerging Health & Safety Issues in Changing Workplaces: A Canadian Discussion" as the theme, this two-day national forum hosted by CCOHS is expected to provide an opportunity for subject experts, workers, employers and governments to share their knowledge and better understand how these unique challenges impact the health, safety and well being of workers. The interactive panel discussion is expected to be a highlight of Forum ‘07.

Information about Forum ’07 is available on the website: www.ccohs.ca/events/forum07/.

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