North American Occupational Health and Safety (NAOSH) Week
From May 3 to May 8, organizations across Canada will celebrate North American Health Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The goal of annual NAOSH achievements and celebrations is to reiterate the need for employers, employees and workplaces to focus on the importance of occupational health and safety in pursuit of preventing injuries, illness and fatalities in the workplace.
Recognition of NAOSH Week began in June 1997 and initially started as an agreement between Canada, the US and Mexico during the NAFTA agreement as workplace safety within North America was discussed by government labour representatives at the time. Canada’s representatives at these talks were familiar with the CSSE’s COHS – Canadian Occupational Health and Safety week and thought NAOSH should model this version of a health and safety week.
The CSSE was approached and since 2000 NAOSH has continued under CSSE’s leadership. Since 2000 the CSSE has partnered with CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety), Labour Program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Threads of Life to promote NAOSH every May.