Pay Stub Messages / Email Attachments

Include tips on safety and injury prevention (e.g. safe snow shoveling technique, car seat requirements, and low risk drinking guidelines) on employee pay stubs. Also, tips or announcements can be included with each company-wide email.

Lunch and Learn

Invite a guest speaker to present a “Lunch and Learn” workshop geared towards safety or injury prevention. For example:

• Invite a local physiotherapist or fitness professional to present on strength and flexibility exercises to prevent injuries.
• Invite a guest speaker to present information on safe winter driving techniques. Consider including a demonstration on vehicle safety, tire inspections, or samples of emergency winter survival kits.
• Invite an optometrist to speak about eye health, eye check-ups, and signs and symptoms of eye conditions, such as night blindness.

Think Smart Health Fair

Organize a health fair at your workplace. Invite organizations to provide handout materials and introduce employees to the issues related to the theme. Professionals to invite could include the fire and police departments, CAA, Insurance Bureau of Canada, physical activity specialists, car seat inspectors/educators and internal Health and Safety representatives from your workplace. Feel free to expand on this list to include additional organizations that may have valuable information, which fits into the safety and injury prevention theme. As part of the health fair, information about health screenings could also be included, such as what regular tests should be done throughout your lifespan, and gender specific screenings.

Distracted Driving Simulation

Nearly 80% of car crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the collision. Invite a “Be Smart. Be Safe.” speaker (Insurance Bureau of Canada) to discuss the dangers of distracted drivers. This can be done as part of a health fair, a lunch and learn, or as a stand alone activity. As part of the event, the D.U.M.B (Distractions Undermining Motorist Behaviour) car can be booked. It is an interactive driving simulator which will provide a dramatic demonstration of what happens when you don't keep your eyes on the road.

Fire Safety

Hold a fire safety event by inviting the local fire department to come in and give safety demonstrations, such as how to properly use a ladder and trying your hand at putting out a fire with an extinguisher. As part of the event, different types of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can be on display and even given away as a prize. The day before the event, employees can be encouraged to check the batteries on their alarms. On the day of the event, appropriate disposal containers can be provided for old batteries. This is a great way for employees to learn about practicing good fire and home safety and at the same time learn about how to properly dispose of old batteries. Contact your local municipal waste management services for the proper handling procedures of old batteries.

Car Seat Inspection Clinics

Consider hosting a child car seat inspection clinic for employees with young children or grandchildren. Have employees bring in their vehicles and car seats for an inspection by certified, trained professionals. Employees can learn about choosing the appropriate car seat based on their child’s age, height and weight, as well as valuable tips for parents when buckling their children safely in their vehicles. Offer handouts and include an educational presentation on the importance and proper use of child car seats. Contact the Children’s Safety Village of Windsor and Essex County at 519- 945-5500 or your local police department for details regarding hosting an inspection or presentation on child car seat safety.

Visit the Safety Village

Set up a trip for employees and their young children to the Children’s Safety Village of Windsor Essex County, 519-945-5500 (Lauzon ParkWay and Forest Glade Drive). This is a fun, entertaining, interactive, and valuable way for children to be exposed to many safety messages. Follow this activity with nutritious snacks and draw prizes that promote being active (e.g. balls, frisbees, and kites).

Bicycle Tune-up and Family Ride

Contact a local bicycle shop to host a “Bicycle Tune-up” event followed by a family ride on local trails or parkways. Enter all participants’ names in a draw for prizes (e.g. bicycle water bottles, bells and lights for their bicycles, or flashing reflectors). Finish off the event with nutritious snacks (e.g. fresh fruit, trail mix) and water.