By the time people grow up and enter the workforce many poor attitudes and practices in regard to health and safety have already been established. An innovative program from WorkSafe Western Australia, and launched through the Town of Claremont Library and Information Service aims to change that.
The ThinkSafe Club is an Internet program designed by WorkSafe to teach children under the age of 12 about safety and to carry these lessons with them through life. Children are taught three simple steps to apply at home, school or on the roads.
- Spot the hazard
- Assess the risk
- Make the change
At the launch, in December 1997, Commissioner for Occupational Safety and Health, Neil Bartholomaeus, said it is important that we instil safety messages at an early age so that everyone in the community thinks about safety in all areas for the rest of their lives.
Town of Claremont Manager of Library Information Services, Suzanne McLeod, who also chairs Council’s Occupational Safety and Health Committee, said she was encouraged that WorkSafe WA is partnering with Local Government, acknowledging public libraries enjoy such a high profile within the community.
The program is part of an extensive safety campaign being run in conjunction with local football team Claremont, and supported by billboard and poster advertising sporting the blue and gold colours of the AFL’s West Coast Eagles.
According to Suzanne McLeod the association with football makes it an immensely attractive program to young people. She said since the service has been operating, local children have been enthusiastically using the program with many taking a test resulting in a certificate if they achieve more than 75 percent accuracy. An intensive program is planned for the next school holiday period.
For further information contact Suzanne McLeod, telephone (08) 9384 1377.
