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Activities and Highlights - 2007
Advocacy Drug-Impaired Driving June, 2007 Representation to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights concerning Bill C-32: Proposed legislation on drug-impaired driving.
CSC urged the government not to proceed with amendments to the Criminal Code believing that the changes proposed are premature, cannot realistically be implemented and may stand in the way of more effective countermeasures. Railway's Safety Management System May, 2007 Representation to the Railway Safety Act Review Secretariat concerning the Railway's Safety Management System. CSC welcomed Minister Cannon's announcement last December 14, 2006 of a full review of the Railway Safety Act, with the objective to improve rail safety and promote a safety culture within that industry. Aeronautics Safety Act April, 2007 Representation to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities concerning Bill C-6: Proposed legislation on airline industry self-regulation. CSC made public its concerns that the changes currently under consideration may jeopardize the safety of Canada's aviation system. Bill C-6, the proposed legislation to amend the Aeronautics Safety Act, will allow the airline industry to enforce safety regulations and standards. Criminal Code: Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) April, 2007 Representation to the Prime Minister of Canada concerning Bill C-376: Proposed lowering of the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). CSC voiced its concerns that changes to the Criminal Code being proposed to lower the BAC may compromise the progress and the fight against impaired driving. Survey
Poll Shows High Support for Electronic Enforcement CSC commissioned Ipsos-Reid to conduct a survey on what Canadians thought of photo radar. Although CSC states that there is no substitute for police visibility, the presence of photo radar is a valid and economical tool to compliment safe driving enforcement. The poll indicated that there was an above average support for electronic enforcement in school zones and on highways. The poll also indicated support for red-light cameras at intersections. These results reflect very similar conclusions from a survey conducted in 2003. An additional preference indicated by the 2007 poll, was that Canadians would like to see the zones of electronic enforcement identified. CSC believes this would contribute to the goal of ensuring safe speeds and safe driving. The report was released on July 19th, 2007. Traffic Safety
National Safe Driving Week The three most important things to do before tackling the challenges of winter driving are maintaining your vehicle, equipping your vehicle (with basic equipment and survival gear) and adjusting driver habits. The theme for this safety week (December 1 -7): WeatherwiseY Be Prepared, covered these topics to help Canadians prepare to drive safely during the winter. CSC also informed the public about a new technology called Electronic Stability Control which will be mandated in model cars in Canada by 2012. A poster and an informational pamphlet were made available to download off CSC's website. National Road Safety Week Educating the public in safe driving practices is always a priority for CSC. The theme for the National Road Safety Week: Saving Lives on Canadian Roads (May 15 - 21, 2007) supported the national efforts of making Canada's roads the safest in the world. The focus of this safety week was on behaviours that put drivers, passengers and other road users most at risk: sober and alert driving, seat belt use, and intersection related incidents involving drivers, riders and pedestrians. All enforcement agencies across the country were invited to participate. National Police Award for Traffic Safety, and The National Police Award for Traffic Safety was created in 1991 through the partnership of Transport Canada, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canada Safety Council. This award, along with Transport Canada's Road Safety Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizes excellence, dedication and initiative in the field of traffic safety by enforcement officers across Canada. The award ceremony took place on August 19th, 2007 in Calgary, Alberta. Child Safety
Summer Safety Week Trampoline injuries were on everyone's mind during the summer of 2007. The Summer Safety Week (May 1 - 7, 2007) addressed the concerns of parents and offered important safety tips and rules with Safety Tips for Backyard Trampolines. CSC believes that trampolines are an enjoyable and healthy activity for children as long as precautions are in place. Parents need to follow a few non-negotiable rules for safety and supervision is essential. The theme of School Bus Safety Week (October 17 - 23, 2007) was Give Children the Right of Way. It was and continues to be a timely reminder to motorists to respect the traffic rules concerning pedestrians and school buses. CSC seeks to ensure the safe transportation of children to and from school. Motorists play a large role in this endeavour and CSC continues to use education and awareness to get the message across and attain the best possible outcome of safe boarding, riding and exiting of school bus passengers. In preparation of the new school year, CSC also released in September 2007, Getting Safely to School and Home Again which covered the safety aspects of children as pedestrians using the roads by foot, by bicycle, by car and by school bus. CSC reminded parents of their role in instilling safe habits and conduct in their children, when using and sharing the roadways. Public Safety Many general public safety issues were addressed by CSC. There were several tragic incidents of children falling out of windows from apartment buildings, concerns on purchasing safe toys free of lead and dangers of swallowing magnets. In all cases, CSC offered advice on injury prevention and safety tips. Elmer the Safety Elephant The Elmer the Safety Elephant Child Safety Program continued to be active in 2007. Over 100 Police Departments across Canada are involved in the Program. Over 1,000 schools participate in the School Flag Program, in which 600 of these schools have received an Elmer Award Plaque for being traffic accident-free for five consecutive years. The Elmer Club now has over 10,000 members. The Elmer website www.elmer.ca receives more than 225,000 hits a month. The Elmer mascot appeared in numerous community events at children's safety villages, parades, Police Safety Week events in May, and Elmer appears annually at special events across the country. Elmer has also been busy across Canada with the CSC/Duracell Fire Safety events. Occupational Health & Safety
Farm Safety Week Since farming remains one of the most hazardous occupations, CSC featured the message The Reward is Worth the Effort for the National Farm Safety Week (March 14 - 20, 2007). The aim was to heighten public awareness of safety issues and concerns surrounding the agricultural communities. The focus was directed at accident prevention and taking the necessary precautions to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury. Workplace Safety Fitness and Wellness CSC continues to work with the Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work (CCHALW) on many projects and activities. Active living and health professionals in workplace settings across the country were exposed to initiatives and products that are focused on raising awareness, increasing and sustaining participation levels and enhancing the importance of participating in healthy activities at work. Through these projects and activities the CCHALW established contact with over one million Canadians. Fitness Safety Standards The copyright and ownership of the Canadian Fitness Safety Standards© and the Canadian Fitness Matters program have were transferred to CSC in 2007. The Standards were developed by the Ontario Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (OASES) under the direction of the Fitness Safety Advisory Council. Reliable, service-oriented fitness clubs want to differentiate themselves from the run of the mill clubs. By becoming the new home of the Canadian Fitness Safety Standards, CSC aims to assist the top fitness centres in Canada to achieve a high degree of safety. Home Safety
National Home Fire Safety Week Residents of high rise apartment buildings appreciated the valuable safety information offered in CSC Home Fire Safety Week news release entitled: High Rise Fire, Smoke and Flames. In multiple-floor buildings there is a fire survival strategy that is unique. Residents must evaluate the question: Should I stay or should I go? There are occasions where attempting to escape a burning building through a smoke-filled stairwell is a fatal mistake and "protecting-in-place" would be the safest option in Canadian buildings. Being prepared in an emergency and knowing all the factors to consider, allows residents of condos and apartment buildings to decide on the best plan of action and make informed decisions to improve their chances of safety and survival in the event of a fire. CSC / Duracell Fire Safety Events Duracell and CSC continue to share a concern over fire safety awareness. Several news releases and public service announcements were diffused regularly to the media in 2007. CSC with Duracell and their Fire Safety Drive, offered families the chance to meet local firefighters, tour a fire truck, participate in fire safety exercises and pick up a free guide on fire safety. Community Safety
National Seniors' Safety Week National Community Safety and Crime Prevention Month In November 2007 CSC shared valuable safety tips for parents and educators regarding children using the Internet. The theme Cyber Safety Starts Young emphasized the importance of instilling good habits when using the computer and Internet. A research project that ended in 2005 (Young Canadians in a Wired World) revealed that an astonishing 94 per cent of young people access the Internet at home. Children can surf and aptly handle a mouse to navigate the Internet, but they lack the critical thinking and capacity to scrutinize content. It is up to parents and educators to ensure that they have the tools and know-how to safely explore the World Wide Web and all the options that it offers. Support, supervision and a sense of trust must begin when children are young in order to keep the lines of communication open. Training CSC continues to have an extensive reach for safety training, offering courses to all ages, starting with young Canadians (Babysitter Training), all the way to the mature drivers (55 Alive Course). Through the training of Chief Instructors and Instructor Trainers, the CSC extends it's program reach across Canada. On the motorcycle front, the Gearing Up Motorcycle Training program and the Motorcycle Refresher program are helping to reduce motorcycle-related injuries and are subsequently contributing towards injury reduction. Defensive Driving Courses The Defensive Driving Courses, including both the instructor-led course and the new "Green" on-line version aims to help adult drivers become better and safer drivers. The courses are designed for both novice and experienced drivers, and provide the knowledge to help prevent collisions. Since 85 per cent of collisions could be prevented by drivers, this program continues to be in demand for companies and government departments. The recently updated on-line course includes driver tips on reducing the environmental impact of driving. Canadian drivers can easily access this on-line program directly from the CSC website. Professional Driver Improvement Course 55 Alive: Mature Driver Refresher Course Mature drivers can benefit from a course designed to adjust and improve driving skills based on changes and challenges that come with age, such as loss of vision, hearing, flexibility and reaction time. All Terrain Vehicle Rider's Course The ATV Rider's course continues to grow and served over 14,000 ATV riders in 2007. The ATV Chief Instructor manual and material was revised and updated. Three new Chief Instructors were added to the national total of 20 Chief Instructors, assuring availability of instructor-training from coast to coast. The Instructor cadre grew by 23 per cent. CSC and Canadian Tire Corporation partnered in running ATV Safety Awareness Clinics across the country. These clinics demonstrated how to manage the risk with an ATV, performing a pre-ride inspection and teaching the responsibilities and regulations that go with owning an ATV. Motorcycle Skills Course & Experienced Rider Course Since 1974, almost 500,000 Canadians have learned how to ride motorcycles from the professionals who teach the CSC's Gearing Up motorcycle training program. It is offered through a national network and is the only national program recognized by the motorcycle industry, federal and provincial governments, the insurance industry and private organizations across Canada. Scooter Course As of 2005, CSC offers a scooter course in response to the popularity of scooters on Canadian roads. Dirt Bikes A new initiative on Dirt Bike Safety was piloted in October 2007, in Noel, Nova Scotia. The CSC through an arrangement with the US Motorcycle Safety Foundation invited a Dirt Bike Chief Instructor from the US to conduct this very first course. The CSC hopes to expand this Dirt Bike course in other jurisdictions in the coming years. Babysitter Training Course CSC has been a leader in babysitter training since 1970. This course is the oldest and most recognized in Canada. Over 8,000 students took the course in 2007 adding to the total number of over half a million young people trained over the years. CSC recently released the updated French version already popular in English to better serve the French markets. Websites Publications Living Safety, CSC's quarterly off-the-job safety magazine has corporate and individual subscribers. It addressed a variety of safety topics in 2007 including recent product recalls. The summer issue received a face lift with a new and updated layout and format. Safety Canada is published quarterly and is sent to CSC members. It is also available on CSC's website. The spring issue displayed a new updated look and featured articles on safe driving and gave a nod to the Canadian Truck Driver of the Year. Safety Publications Various safety publications continue to be printed and distributed nationally. Buckle Up Bear (sponsored by The Cooperators) a growth chart describing the correct use of child car seats remains popular as new parents continue to need this valid information. Elmer the Safety Elephant's line of safety booklets continues to be in demand and are very well received by the school population. These include: School Bus Safety, Fire Safety, Bike Safety Fun Book and Tracks are for Trains. Requests for the No More Bullies poster, informational pamphlet and Teacher's Guide demonstrate that this safety issue is still prevalent in our schools. We have depleted the supply of our Home Alone booklets which we will be seeking to replenish with sponsorship funding in 2008. The subject of safety for youngsters at home alone is in demand, as we continue to get requests on a weekly basis. Media and Committees CSC sends out news releases, open letters and survey results to various media, organizations and stakeholders to generate interest in safety and injury prevention. Annual National Safety Campaigns help highlight and promote specific safety topics that are important, timely and valid. The media (print, radio and television) calls upon CSC to address timely issues in the news that require attention. CSC offers awareness, education and advice on an ongoing basis. In addition, CSC sends out seasonal news releases reminding Canadians about safety issues associated with certain times of the year. Aside from being sourced in daily news publications, prominent national magazines such as Canadian Living, Canadian Family, Readers Digest, and Owl Magazine also print CSC's advice and safety tips. The media forum is vast, varied and prominent. CSC covers a wide range of safety issues. Special contributors such as the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. David Butler-Jones also contribute to CSC's boundless sources of safety advice. CSC participates and serves on several committees including:
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 © 2008 Canada Safety Council |