Events & Awards

AWARDS

If you’re an employer and you’re going above and beyond to protect the well-being of your workers, you may wish to consider applying for an OHS award. Get recognized for your achievements!

NAOSH Week Awards

The North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week is an annual, continent-wide event in which employers, employees and all partners in occupational health and safety (OHS) collaborate to promote injury and illness prevention in the workplace. NAOSH Week was launched in 1997 after an agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico to dedicate the first week of May each year to focus on OHS.

Canada’s Safest Employers Awards

Launched in 2011, Canada’s Safest Employers Awards recognize companies from all across Canada with outstanding accomplishments in promoting the health and safety of their workers.

BC’s tourism and hospitality companies are encouraged to apply under the award categories of Services or Transportation, as well as special awards including:

• Psychological Safety Award
• Wellness Award
• Young Worker Safety Award
• Canada’s Best Health + Safety Culture Award

Companies are judged on a wide range of occupational health and safety (OHS) elements, including employee training, OHS management systems, incident investigation, emergency preparedness and innovative health and safety initiatives. To be eligible for these awards, the nominating business must have been an employer in Canada for the last five years or more and have at least 20 employees.

EVENTS

Throughout the year, go2HR participates in a number of occupational health and safety (OHS) events for BC’s tourism and hospitality industry. Examples of key events include:

North American Occupational Safety & Health (NAOSH) Week

BC Launch Event (May)

Day of Mourning Ceremony

From 2014 to 2018, six people lost their lives due to work-related causes in the BC tourism and hospitality industry. That is six too many.

The national Day of Mourning, held annually at the end of April, commemorates workers who lost their lives due to workplace injuries or diseases.

The Day of Mourning was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress.

On the Day of Mourning, workers will light candles, don ribbons and black armbands and observe moments of silence. Businesses are asked to participate by declaring April 28 a Day of Mourning and to strive to prevent workplace deaths, illnesses and injuries.

We hope that the annual observance of this day will strengthen the resolve to establish safe conditions in the workplace for all. It is as much a day to remember the dead as it is a call to protect the living.

Your workplace can take part by:

• Attending a Day of Mourning ceremony. Every year, WorkSafeBC, the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Business Council of British Columbia and other organizations host public ceremonies to honour the occasion. Ceremonies are held in several regions around the province.
• Spreading awareness in the office with a poster.
• Requesting free decals and posters.
• Making a dedication to those who have lost their lives while on the job.

For OHS events held by other organizations, visit go2HR’s events calendar.

go2HR is BC’s tourism & hospitality, human resources and health & safety association driving strong workforces and safe workplaces that deliver world class tourism and hospitality experiences in BC. Follow us on LinkedIn or reach out to our team.