Safety Starts With You Campaign 2002 "So much is missing." Mary Long still suffers the huge void of losing her husband, Dick Long, in August 1997, when he plummeted 30 feet to a foundry floor. Through the personal tragedies of "real people — real families," our 2002 Safety Starts With You campaign continues to emphasize the emotional and human dimensions of workplace health and safety. Mary Long, Hamilton, Ontario Mary joins five more safety ambassadors in this year's campaign: Rob Ellis and Paul Kells, who lost teen-aged sons; Ray Smith who is now legally blind; Jean Jaques Turgeon, who is now a paraplegic; and Paul Allen, who is partially paralyzed. They all know the devastating effects of unsafe work practices. They all can testify, "These things actually happen to real people…to real families." Each of our safety ambassadors, however, also demonstrate how things can change. As active promoters of safe work practices, they are making a difference in the lives of Ontarians, and in our province's workplaces. Workplace injury and illness can be eliminated, when we make safety a priority in our daily lives. Newspapers Newspaper ads appear in all English dailies, Ottawa's Le Droit (Ontario's only French daily) and French weeklies until February 18. In addition, we have third language versions in prominent community newspapers, mostly around the greater Toronto area. English ads feature Mary Long, Rob Ellis, Paul Allen, and Ray Smith. French ads present Jean Jacques Turgeon, Ray Smith, Mary Long, and Rob Ellis. See the newspaper ads. Paul Allen knows Rob Ellis' heart broke Mary Long's tragedy Ray Smith's world went dark Jean Jacques Turgeon (translated French ad) Posters Ray Smith and Rob Ellis are on this year's campaign posters. Posters appear in 30 major malls across Ontario, in Toronto subway cars, and around some construction sites.The subway posters have tear off pads listing worker and employer responsibilities in health and safety. See the posters: Rob Ellis Ray Smith Television We have three commercials in English and French between January 14 and February 17. Our new ad features Ray Smith, who after his injury, dedicates his time to educating and motivating Ontarians to keep each other safe. In addition, we are broadcasting two effective commercials from past campaigns: the Window ad that debuted two years ago showing children waiting for their mother to arrive home safely, and last year's ad featuring Rob Ellis telling the story of how his son, David, lost his life in a bakery. The Rob Ellis commercial also runs in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. Several cities across the province have buses equipped with TV monitors that will show these commercials. Radio Radio ads air in English and French until March 10. On English radio, Mary Long tells of the huge void in her life since her husband Dick's tragic death; Paul Kells talks about how the death of his son, Sean, changed his life and how we all have a responsibility to make our workplace safe; and Jean Jacques Turgeon emphasizes that safety must be part of everyone's job description. French radio listeners hear Jean Jacques Turgeon and Paul Kells. Movie Slide A movie slide shows images of Dick Long, David Ellis, and Dick Van Rooyen — whose lives were all cut short by workplace tragedies. The ad appears on 600 Famous Player and Odeon movie screens during February. Dick Long was a 49-year-old crane technician from Hamilton, Ontario. He died in August 1997, after he plummeted nine metres to the floor of a local foundry. David Ellis, just 18, died in February 1999 on his second day at a temporary job when he became entangled in a commercial dough mixer at a bakery. Dick Van Rooyen, age 58, died in a highway crash in August 1998, while placing pylons within a road construction work zone on Highway 401. Ambassador Tours From January through March, the campaign's Safety Ambassadors are touring the province, speaking with local media in Ottawa, Sudbury, North Bay, London, Hamilton, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo. Safety Ambassador Biographies Paul Allen, Welland Three years ago, a freak accident forever changed the life of Paul Allen. A stray piece of metal struck the then 30-year-old in the neck. Doctors told him that people don't usually survive the kind of injuries that Paul sustained. In rehabilitation since the accident, he is yet to reach maximum recovery and his arm will always be partially paralyzed. Paul is grateful to be alive and is currently studying Human Resources and Health and Safety at Niagara College. Mary Long, Hamilton Mary Long lost her husband in 1997. Forty-nine-year-old Dick Long was a crane technician who died three days after plummeting nine metres to the floor of a Hamilton foundry. No one knows what caused the fall, but their son, Justin, saw it happen and still struggles with the images he witnessed. Since her husband's tragic death, Mary has committed herself to the prevention of work-related injuries. She is president of OPSEU Local 216, a delegate of the Hamilton Labour District Council and a member of the Joint Health and Safety Commmittee of the Family Services of Hamilton/Wentworth. Rob Ellis, Burlington In February 1999, Mr. Ellis' 18 year-old son David died after becoming entangled in a dough mixer at a nearby bakery. It was his second day on the job. Today, Ellis – himself a small business owner – speaks to children, parents, unions and businesses about the importance of workplace safety and accident prevention. Ray Smith, Ajax In 1986, Raymond Smith was working as a janitor in a plant when a sharp piece of wood became lodged in his eye. Born with poor vision in his other eye, Raymond was left completely blind. Although he eventually regained partial sight, the married father of two is still legally blind. Unable to return to his previous job, he received training through the WSIB and went on to join a large insurance company in 1990, where he worked in customer service and diversity training. Paul Kells, Toronto Mr. Kells is President and CEO of Cargo Direct International and Motion Design Group. In November 1994, Mr. Kells' 19-year-old son, Sean, was killed in an industrial explosion. Since then, Mr. Kells has been a tireless speaker, talking to unions, businesses, schools and parents to ensure that no other family experiences the pain and suffering that his endured. In April 1996, Mr. Kells founded the Safe Communities Foundation, a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping communities become safer places to live, work and play. In 2001 Mr. Kells was honoured with the Ontario Volunteerism Award and also received the Order of Ontario. Jean Jacques Turgeon, Toronto A workplace explosion at a logging camp in Northern Ontario in 1978 left Mr. Turgeon a paraplegic. For the past 20 years he has worked for Air Canada, protecting the safety of passengers and his company's customer service workers at Canada's busiest airport.