IAPA and NQI form a strategic alliance

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 26 /CNW/ - IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention
Association) and National Quality Institute (NQI) are proud to announce a
strategic alliance that will allow IAPA to deliver select NQI products and
services.
    As of May 1, 2008, IAPA is an authorized provider of NQI Healthy
Workplace(R) courses and related materials, the NQI Progressive Excellence
Program (NQI PEP(R)) and related materials, and related services.
    "We are pleased to partner with NQI in this joint effort to raise the
profile of workplace health, safety, and wellness, as well as identify the
advantages of a business excellence program that IAPA has benefited from in
the past," says Maureen Shaw, IAPA President and CEO. "With IAPA and NQI
working collaboratively and sharing our collective knowledge, expertise, and
talent, we can do more together to assist organizations in their journey
towards becoming healthy workplaces. And, it will only help us all to get
closer to that ultimate goal of zero workplace injuries, illness, and deaths
in our workplaces."
    NQI Healthy Workplace(R) courses cover material developed by NQI, Health
Canada, and a team of key health professionals. The courses address a
broad-based approach to health and wellness issues in the workplace, bringing
together environmental, physical, mental, safety, and social issues into a
strategic model that helps organizations set goals and manage their internal
wellness programs.
    The NQI PEP(R) Program is designed to help organizations improve their
operations, as well as boost their overall business results, by providing
organizations with the framework and strategic context for ISO and other
systems such as hospital accreditation, Six Sigma, LEAN manufacturing, and
Customer Relationship Management so that an organization can incorporate other
improvement initiatives into a holistic integrated management system.
    IAPA staff will be trained by NQI personnel to become certified
instructors of the NQI courses. IAPA will also be equipped to provide training
and consulting work with the NQI Healthy Workplace(R) Program and NQI PEP(R)
Program at all levels.
    "NQI is very pleased to enter into this strategic alliance with IAPA, a
long-time partner and client of ours," said Allan Ebedes, President and CEO of
NQI. "Together, NQI and IAPA will be able to train and coach even more
organizations to become healthy workplaces and role models for organizational
excellence."

    IAPA is a not-for-profit, member driven organization operating in Ontario
since 1917. Representing approximately 50,000 member firms and more than
1.5 million Ontario workers, IAPA is one of Canada's leading workplace health
and safety organizations. IAPA is focused on providing industry-leading
training, consulting, educational products, and informational services that
meet our members' needs and the needs of those in their communities. IAPA is
also recognized as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in
Occupational Health and an International Labour Organization - CIS
Collaborating Centre. IAPA is ISO 9001 certified, has been awarded the NQI
PEP(R) Level 3 for Quality Certificate, and was a recipient of a Bronze Level
Quality Award at the 2006 Canada Awards for Excellence. For more information,
visit our website at www.iapa.ca .

    NQI is Canada's leading authority on workplace excellence based on
quality systems and healthy workplace criteria. An independent, not-for-profit
organization, NQI is overseen by a Board of Governors comprised of leaders
from the private sector, public sector, health care, and the not-for profit
sector. NQI provides organizational leaders with strategic business
frameworks, services, and tools that support ongoing performance improvement
in quality and healthy workplace environments. NQI is the national steward
organization for the annual Canada Awards for Excellence, a program originally
developed in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide recognition
for organizations adjudicated to have achieved a level of performance based on
recognized international criteria in the Excellence Frameworks. NQI acts as a
national partner with many organizations to advance the Excellence movement in
Canada.

For further information: Meagan Parker, Communications and PR
Specialist, IAPA, Tel: [phone], ext. 2233, E-mail: [e-mail];
Bonita Savard, Executive Assistant, NQI, Tel: [phone], ext. 233,
E-mail: [e-mail]