On July 8^th, Ontario Labour Minister Brad Duguid traveled to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines to promote the ministry's new four year plan for reducing workplace injuries and fatalities —Safe At Work Ontario. The new strategic plan will emphasize both the safety of Ontario workers and the increased productivity that safe workplaces bring to Ontario's economy. In Niagara Falls, Minister Duguid met with representatives from PolyOne Canada Inc. at their Niagara Chemical Plant for a tour of the facility and to congratulate staff on a remarkable health and safety record. The plant has not had a lost-time injury in the last 18 years.

In St. Catharines, Minister Duguid joined Mayor Brian McMullan and St. Cathariness MPP Jim Bradley for a tour of Lakeside Park and an informal chat with City of St. Catharines parks and recreation summer student workers about health and safety.

According to the Institute for Work and Health, young workers are four times more likely to be injured in their first month on a new job due to things such as lack of experience; inadequate or incomplete training; insufficient supervision; and, reluctance to ask questions. Minister Duguid chatted with the students on how to recognize dangerous situations on the job, and their right to refuse to do dangerous work.