“y

= At the SAFER conference
Weyco’s Bill Gaynor (left) said his
company won't operate a unit that
continues to injure people and IWA
national president Dave Haggard
criticized policies where discipline is

imposed for safety violations.

PHOTOS BY NORMAN GARCIA

SAFER 2003 ANOTHER

| was a conference that more than

330 individuals participated in —
representing IWA Canada members,
employers and occupational health and
safety specialists. The Safety Advisory
Foundation for Education and
Research (SAFER) held its giant con-
ference in Victoria B.C. on January 20 - 21.

As in 2000, the SAFER conference
was an overwhelming success. The
them of the event was putting health
back into health and safety committees.

Four two-day courses were offered
while an assortment of diverse two
hour workshops were also enthusiasti-
cally attended.

“We have established a SAFER tradi-
tion where both the union and man-
agement can get together and work
together,” says co-chair Neil Menard.

= Over 330 participants from the IWA, management and presenters took part. Above were
participants in an Ergonomics workshop, conducted by the Industrial Musculoskeletal Research
Program (IMIRP), run jointly by the WCB, industry and the union.

= Local 2171’ Brenda Wagg on IMIRP.

= The national union’s Gerry
Smith co-presented on
Return-to-Work.

= Local 2171's Jim Parker (r.) spoke on effective committees.

18 | THE ALLIED WORKER APRIL 2003