Safety experts shed light on workforce changes at Partners in Prevention Conference, 2013

TORONTO, April 2, 2013 /CNW/ - Emerging trends and issues in workplace hazards, risk management, and occupational health and safety legislation are the focus of this year's Partners in Prevention 2013. As Canada's largest health and safety event, the annual conference plays host to over 4,500 leading health and safety experts and delegates from across Canada. It takes place this year from April 30 to May 1, at the International Centre, Mississauga , Ontario.

"In the face of significant economic pressures and a transforming workforce, employers are feeling increasing pressure to keep their employees, customers and businesses protected," says Elizabeth Mills, President & CEO, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. "This event has been designed to help them keep pace with those changes, while seeing their business succeed by investing in health and safety."

Addressing a broad range of issues - from the recent adoption of mental health standards to the economic burden of healthcare costs to the impact of technology in the workplace, this year's event features more than 60 thought-provoking sessions and professional development work shops, including:

• Leading in the changing workplace - On Tuesday morning, April 30, Claude Bigras, President and CEO of GDI; Greg Nordal, President and CEO, Nelson Education; Saajid Khan, President and CEO, Compass Group Canada; and Jane Riddell, COO, Goodlife Canada, will kick things off with a panel discussion that explores the role of the CEO in creating a culture of health and safety.
• Brave new world of mental health - We've entered a new era of enlightenment and expectation when it comes to creating psychologically safe workplaces. This year's conference features several sessions to help employers and employees understand what this means to them. Among the many speakers, Clara Hughes, six-time Olympic Champion will talk about overcoming obstacles to achieve the Olympic dream; and, Linda Duxbury, Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, will address the need for a new approach to manage employee absenteeism, which costs the Canadian economy over $4 billion each year in lost time.
• Managing workplace health to reduce health care and economic costs - Canada is facing a huge challenge in funding universal public health care, and health care now accounts for more than 40% of provincial expenditures. In his session, Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of The Conference Board of Canada will challenge delegates to think about the impact of workplace health on our economy and on the sustainability of our current health care system.
• The monumental shift: an in-depth look into the future of Canada, technology and the changing workforce - In this session, Leonard Brody, Business and Technology Visionary shares how technology will continue to change the world of work and how employers can grow and innovate in the midst of this revolution.
• Preparing for new legislative requirements - Over the next two years, there will be a number of legislative changes impacting Ontario workplaces. Sessions on the Global Harmonization System (defining, classifying and communicating health and safety information related to chemical products), preparing for Ministry of Labour mandatory awareness training, and supervising health and safety from a distance, among others, will help delegates prepare for what's coming.

Partners in Prevention 2013 is Canada's largest and longest running health and safety event for business success, bringing together health and safety professionals for networking, education and knowledge sharing. It is hosted by Ontario's prevention system partners and is the flagship of the Partners in Prevention conference series; complemented by seven regional conferences across Ontario.

There are many registration options available to participants including two-day, one-day and trade show only registrations, and individual pricing for professional development workshops.  An early bird registration rate is in effect until April 3rd. For more information or to register, visit www.PartnersinPreventionConference.com or contact the WSPS Customer Care Department toll-free at 1-877-494-9777 or [email protected]

SOURCE: Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Media Contact:
Jana Manolakos
Manager, Corporate Reputation
[phone] or 1-877-494-9777
[email protected]