It Takes a Village to Keep Young Workers Safe

“What if we let ourselves feel it all? What if we decided that it is strength – not weakness – to let other people’s pain pierce us? What if we stopped our lives and the world for things that are worth stopping for?”

– Glennon Doyle, “Untamed”

Tim Hamilton died while working at his summer job. He was only 19.

As part of the JPMF’s “Casket” workplace safety public awareness campaign, we are producing a series of blogs & short videos that profile some of the workers who have passed away, and whose families have kindly submitted to us photos for the campaign.

Since Const. John Petropoulos died on the job in 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as the result of an injury at work or due to an occupational illness. Behind this stat are 20,000 real people whose lives were cut short – and the thousands and thousands of loved ones left behind to pick up the pieces.

One such worker was Tim Hamilton.

Tim was 19 when he died in 1999, as the result of electrocution. His death could have easily been prevented. Click To Tweet

The JPMF worked closely with Tim’s mom, Julie, to create a powerful video with a specific call to action to viewers.

The target audience for this video is parents of young workers. But it doesn’t matter who you are or whether you have kids or not…Tim’s story is a potent reminder that when we see something that could potentially be unsafe – for ourselves or others – we must speak up.

Please take a moment and view the video (1 min 30 sec) on the JPMF You Tube channel.

And then, if you are able, please share the video with anyone you think needs to see it – as well as on your social media platforms. We will never know the difference we make when sharing important safety messages such as this.

But we do know this: by allowing ourselves to feel just a fraction of the pain of another person’s loss – such as Julie Hamilton’s – then the action we may feel compelled to take, such as sharing a video, could save someone’s life.

Also, there is an excellent downloadable resource guide called, “Your Kids & Job Safety,” on the Missing Tim website.

You can also view (and share) the first 30-second “Casket” PSA on the JPMF You Tube channel.

Thank you, take care, stay well & stay safe.

About the JPMF

The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.

John was 32.

The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca. 

It Takes a Village to Keep Young Workers Safe Click To Tweet

Slow Down & Move Over

JPMF takes part in roadside public education event

Calgary, AB – Thursday March 11th, 2021: A contingent of vehicles, made up of members of Calgary’s emergency services, was parked at the side of Stoney Trail Thursday evening to raise awareness about road safety.

Tow truck drivers, first responders and road maintenance crews were set up at the side of Calgary’s ring road in both directions near 114 Avenue S.E. to remind drivers about what they need to do when passing emergency crews.

The consequences for not doing so are deadly, officials say.

Approximately four years ago, tow truck driver Courtney Schafer died while on the job. He was assisting a driver on March 7, 2017, when he was struck by a vehicle near Esterhazy, Sask.

Calgary tow companies say their roadside work is the “most dangerous aspect” of their job…

Read the rest of the CTV article here.

And here is the Global story.

Here are 4 short videos the JPMF created for sharing on social media – to help remind motorists about the importance of slowing down when passing first responders on the road and giving them room to work…so that everyone gets home safely (you’ll notice our “Slow Down; It’s No Picnic” 30 sec PSA is the base for all 4 videos):

#1. Please Slow Down & Change this Ending (55 sec)

#2. Please Slow Down Because it’s No Picnic (2 min 17 sec)

#3. Why We Care About Traffic Safety for First Responders (2 min 16 sec)

#4. Please Slow Down & Give Them Room to Work (1 min 55 sec)

Please consider sharing one or more of these videos on your social media. You just never know when the message hits home with a motorist. I don’t think we can ever hear this “slow down” reminder too often.

Thank you!

Photo Project – Workplace Fatalities in Canada

Has Your Family Been Impacted by a Workplace Fatality in Canada?

If so, the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund would like to hear from you. 

If you have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada – as the result of injury or occupational illness – you may be interested in our current workplace safety campaign.

We are raising awareness about the fact that since Const. John Petropoulos died on the job in 2000 (as the result of a preventable fall at unsafe workplace), more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their work – either from an injury or occupational illness.

The first phase of the “Casket” campaign was launched in the fall of 2020. 

You can watch the first 30-second “Casket” PSA here.

For the second part of the campaign, we are collecting photos from family members who have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada. 

These photos will be used in a second PSA and/or short video/s, as well as in profile blogs. Behind every statistic is a real person…and their loved ones left behind.

If you would like to participate in the photo project, please e-mail us.

Thank you & take care.

About the JPMF

The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.

John was 32.

The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.  

Count the Workplace Safety Tips in this 8-Minute Marathon Podcast

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

– Jane Goodall

Is your workplace safe for everyone, including first responders? 

If you are not familiar with the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund – what we do & why – then this 770 CHQR 8-minute marathon radio interview with Maryanne Pope, John’s widow & JPMF Director (and professional speed-talker), will fill you in: 

A big shout-out of thanks to Sue Deyell & Andrew Schultz of 770 CHQR Radio in Calgary, AB. We appreciate your support in helping us spread the word about the importance of workplace safety!

If you don’t have eight minutes to spare at the moment, here are three things you can do – today – to help save a life:

1. Take a moment to look around your workplace from the perspective of someone who wouldn’t be familiar with any potential hazards. If something needs changing/fixing, please do so.
2. Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury & death on the job. Are safety railings in place where you work? Do you always wear fall protection?
3. Our cars can be killers. Please slow down when passing first responders working on the road – and give them room to work. Obey speed limits in construction zones; they are there for a reason. People are not pylons.

For more workplace safety tips and/or to watch our short safety videos, please visit jpmf.ca.

As for why we do what we do?

To view the JPMF’s newest 30-second “Casket” PSA, please visit our You Tube Channel.

About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.

John was 32.

The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.  

Call to Families for Photos

If Your Family Has Been Impacted by a Workplace Fatality in Canada…

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund would like to hear from you. 

If you have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada – as the result of injury or occupational illness – you may be interested in a public awareness campaign we are currently working on, to raise awareness about the growing number of workplace fatalities.

The first phase of the “Casket” campaign has just been launched. 

To view the first 30-second “Casket” PSA, please click here.

For the second part of the campaign, we are collecting photos from family members who have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada. 

 

Please click here to view some of the photos we have received so far.

Here is the link for further details on the campaign, including the photo component of the project. 

If you would like to participate in the photo project, please contact the JPMF’s “Casket” Project Family Liaison Coordinator, Rebecca Orr, at: rebecca@jpmf.ca.

We have extended the deadline to submit photos to Nov 15th, 2020.

Thank you!

“Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless.”

– Unknown

About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.

John was 32.

The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.