Workplace fatality epidemic kills more than 50,000 in U.S. & Canada

Deadly workplaces are killing Canadians and Americans at an unprecedented rate, resulting in 42,882 occupational fatalities in the U.S. and 10,743 in Canada between 2000 and 2010.*

“This is unacceptable,” says Maryanne Pope, widow of Const. John Petropoulos, a Canadian police officer who succumbed to head injuries sustained after falling through an unmarked false ceiling on September 29, 2000.

“As John’s widow, I think one workplace fatality is one too many,” says Pope. “Over 50,000 deaths is shocking. As Board Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund, this stat tells me we all still have a great deal of work to do to get these numbers down.”

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What we can do for your team of first responders

We help emergency responders go home to their families every day.

As a charitable organization that takes its name from a police officer who died in the line of duty, the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) does this by educating the public about its role in keeping first responders safe on the job, whether it’s making changes at their workplaces or altering their driving habits.

SAFETY RESOURCES

We have several safety resources available to emergency responders, including public service announcements (PSAs), safety videos, posters, brochures and more. We also give safety presentations to corporations, associations, agencies and at conferences.

Here are some resources that may be of interest to you:
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Looking for Public Service Announcements? We can help

Whether you’re looking for print, radio or video PSAs, the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) can help you out.

The JPMF educates the public about their role in keeping emergency responders – including police, firefighters, paramedics and tow truck drivers – safe on the job. Our PSAs raise awareness about workplace and traffic safety issues facing first responders.
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A different perspective on safety

Over the last week, we delivered two safety presentations.

One was to the Building Operators Association of Calgary and the other was to the Red Deer Chapter of the Alberta Motor Transport Association.

These presentations are a great opportunity for us to connect with people directly and show them our safety videos and resources.

The presentations provide a different perspective on workplace and traffic safety – the perspective of first responders when they’re out on the roads or attending unfamiliar work sites – and they are perfect for corporations, government agencies, safety associations and anyone who has a stake in workplace or traffic safety.

And, while they are an ideal opportunity to spread the JPMF’s safety messages, they’re also very important for what comes back to us.

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Maintaining perspective

This time of year often includes a lot of year-end maintenance for the Memorial Fund.

Old emails are cleared out to make room for a new batch of 2012 messages. Budgeting and accounting takes place. Seasonal greetings and thank you notes are dispatched. Social networking and news monitoring continues (sadly, two more workplace fatalities have taken place in Alberta this week and a newlywed volunteer firefighter died in an explosion in B.C.).

None of this year-end work is terribly exciting … but, as is the case with maintaining safe workplaces and driving habits, it’s all necessary.

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Going to market

We’ll be accepting donations and spreading safety messages – along with a little holiday cheer – at the Calgary Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, Dec. 21st.

If you’ve got any last-minute Christmas shopping to do, come to the market and make sure you stop by our booth and say hi. If you can’t make it but still want to support us with a donation, you can give online. The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) is now a registered charity and charitable tax receipts are available.

Meanwhile, tune in to 660 News this weekend to hear an interview with JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson about holiday safety for first responders.

Whether you’re at work, home or behind the wheel, stay safe this holiday season!