An activity-based resource developed by WorkSafenb for New Brunswick schools, grades k to 12 table of contents

Lucy A. McLaughlin Mathematics, Nackawic High

Miramichi Valley High Ian Rowe

Jean MacIntyre, District 17 School District 8

Nancy Thériault Margaret Ryan

Dalhousie Regional High Science, Southern Victoria High

P. Micheal White Norma Shaw

Bathurst High Hartland High

Field Testing:

Mary Anderson Learning & Technology Centre District 16 Charlotte Casey Health & Guidance Harkins Middle Connie Daley Crisis Intervention/Guidance School Districts 14, 15 & 16 Anneka Houtsma Salem Elementary Jennifer Goodine Pennfield Elementary Janet Miller & the staff of Kennebecasis Park Elementary	Donna Campbell Salem Elementary Natalie Corcoran Learning & Technology Centre District 16 Ann Fanjoy Pennfield Elementary Noreen Hachey Birchmount School David Hogan Educational Consultant Lorne H. Lyons Automotive Harbour View High
Ellen Pottle School-to-Work Transition Coordinator, School District 17	Gisèle Moleman Salem Elementary Doug Sussey
Evan Woods Learning & Technology Centre School District 16	YAP District Coordinator School District 13

Silvy Moleman

Curriculum Development Specialist

Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission of New Brunswick

Development work: 1998 to 2000

Implementation: Fall 2000

Vision Statement for Health and Safety Education
The vision of this document is to instil and shape a belief, attitude and awareness that health and safety is an integral responsibility of everyone’s life.

Health & Safety Teacher Advisory Committee, April 1999

• 
  three people will lose their life each working day as a result of work injuries;
  
• 
  more than 820,000 work injuries occur per year, more than 700 prove fatal;
  
• 
  a worker is injured on the job every nine seconds of work time;
  
• 
  16 billion days of work were lost in 1995;
  
• 
  the annual cost of work accidents to Canadian economy is $10 billion;
  
• 
  for every minute of work, $82,500 is spent in compensation to injured workers and their families.
  

• 
  there is one fatality every three weeks in the workplace;
  
• 
  there are on average 15,000 work injuries every year, which adds up to two injuries every hour;
  
• 
  those injuries represent $1,600 per minute in workers’ compensation costs, which represents an annual cost to the New Brunswick economy of $200 million.
  

The following paragraphs are quoted from the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health, Toward a Healthy Future, Second Report on the Health of Canadians, 1999:
“Unintentional injuries are still the leading cause of death among children and youth, as well as a tragic and costly cause of disabling conditions among young Canadians. Boys and young men experience more unintentional injuries and more severe injuries than girls and young women.” (p. ix)
“Unintentional injuries are the third most important cause of death overall, accounting for 8,663 deaths (29 per 100,000 population) in 1996. However, they remain the leading cause of death among Canadians age 1 to 44, and as such are a major contributor to potential years of life lost. Although many sources persist in referring to such events as “accidents,” it is estimated that 90% of deaths due to unintentional injuries are preventable.” (p. 23)
“Educational attainment... is positively associated with health status and health behaviours.” (p. 51)

Full text of Toward a Healthy Future, Second Report on the Health of Canadians located on web site http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca ;

As students progress from one grade level to the next, it is important that they make the connection between keeping safe and the decisions they make on a regular basis. For example, should you mow the lawn in your sandals? Should you run in the halls at school? Should you wear your hard hat on the job?
The activities have been developed to promote cross curricular use. Teachers are encouraged to make adaptations to better meet unique needs within each classroom. By using activities within Choices for Life students will be actively engaged in learning life-long safety skills.
Sensitivity factor ~ When discussing accidents or examples of people who have been injured or have died due to an accident or unsafe decision, caution and sensitivity should always be shown. The heart symbol () is used throughout Choices for Life to identify activities that may require additional sensitivity in delivery.


No one should be injured, suffer an illness or die as a result of the work they do.

How to read the activities

All activities within Choices for Life are structured in the following manner:

P - Primary, grades K to 2