WSIB Awards Winners of the 2010 Student Video Contest

Contest Sees Record Number of Student Participants

TORONTO, May 27 /CNW/ - Earlier this week, Steve Mahoney, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Chair, honoured the winners of the WSIB's annual Student Video Contest.

During a ceremony at Iona Catholic School in Mississauga on Tuesday May 25, Mahoney spoke to 400 students about the importance of workplace safety before awarding third place winners, Mitchell Janiak, Daniel Hughes and Jesse Whitty with two cheques for $1,200; one for the students, and one for their school. Their video "Brothers" came in third out of 113 entries.

"These students created a memorable video that will be used to get the message out that all young workers need to think and act safely," said Mahoney, "and I congratulate them on their achievement."

Second place winner, Andrew De Zen, also comes from Mississauga. In a separate ceremony, at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, Andrew took home a cheque for $1,500, with another $1,500 going to his school.

First place, and $2,000, goes to Eric Labranche of Ecole Secondaire Catholique L'Escale in Rockland, Ontario. His prize was awarded on May 19 by Manager Luc Souliere from the WSIB regional office in Ottawa. He used stop-motion animation and eggs dressed as construction workers to portray an unsafe workplace.

This is the ninth year the WSIB has run the Student Video Contest. The contest invites high school students from across the province to submit videos with a young worker safety theme for a chance to win cash prizes for themselves and their schools by creating videos for their peers. This year saw a record number of students participating with entries from across the province.

Youth between the ages of 15 to 24 are the most vulnerable age group in the workforce, and are four times more likely to be injured on the job. The WSIB is always working to inform young workers about their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. That is especially important now, as thousands of young workers are set to begin summer jobs across the province. It's even more critical given the statistics - every year, close to 10 young Ontario workers lose their lives.

    
    The 2010 Student Video Contest winners are:

    First Place ($2,000 each for winning video and school):

    "Hors du nid, Pointe de Securite"
    Eric Labranche
    Ecole Secondaire Catholique L'Escale, Rockland Ontario

    2nd Place ($1,500 each for winning video and school)

    "Unguarded Machinery"
    Andrew De Zen
    Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, Mississauga Ontario

    3rd Place ($1,200 each for winning video and school)

    "Brothers"
    Mitchell Janiak, Daniel Hughes and Jesse Whitty
    Iona Catholic School, Mississauga Ontario

       To view the winning videos please visit our YouTube channel at
          www.youtube.com/user/ontariowsib and our Facebook page at
                     www.facebook.com/youngworkersafety
    

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) plays a key role in the province's occupational health and safety system. The WSIB administers no-fault workplace insurance for employers and their workers and is committed to the prevention of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The WSIB provides disability benefits, monitors the quality of healthcare, and assists in early and safe return to work for workers who are injured on the job or contract an occupational disease.

SOURCE Workplace Safety & Insurance Board

For further information: For further information: Christine Arnott, WSIB Media Relations, (416) 344-4202, christine_arnott@wsib.on.ca