North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 3-9

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week will be recognized in Nova Scotia on Monday, May 4, with ceremonies across the province.

This year's theme Make it Home Safe Every Day aims to bring awareness to the importance of injury and illness prevention in the workplace, at home and in the community.

"All Nova Scotians should be able to go to work knowing they are safe from injury and illness on the job," said Mark Parent, Minister of Labour and Workforce Development. "Safety needs to be a priority, not just during North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, but every week of the year."

Flag-raising ceremonies will be held at Province House and Nova Scotia Community College campuses.

Last year, 29 Nova Scotians died in workplace accidents and 8,050 people were hurt seriously enough that they were unable to return to work on their next shift.

For more information on occupational health and safety in Nova Scotia and how to protect yourself at work everyday, visit the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/healthandsafety .