A mural depicting the grim reaper wielding a scythe with a drug syringe tip prompted civil liberties advocates to urge staff at the Vancouver (Canada) fire hall, where it's mounted, to get sensitivity training — a call the firefighters say is unnecessary. According to The Canadian Press, the controversial painting is visible only through the windows of the Downtown Eastside fire department, serving a neighborhood known for its large drug-using population and safe-injection site.
The blade of the scythe displays the department's nickname during the time it was painted, “Skids,” and a motto below states: “It's not the end of the world. But we can see it from here.”
The mural has been up for more than a decade but thanks to new media attention, the fire hall is promising to take it down soon.
But the B.C. Civil Liberties Association says the process has taken much longer than it should have and can't just be shrugged away.
When association members were alerted to the mural last month, they asked for it to be taken down. The mural was promptly covered up, and remained so throughout the Winter Olympics. (workersxzcompxzkit)
Nearly seven weeks later, the association's executive director was reportedly aghast to spot it in full view once more.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
Podcast/Webcast: Occupational Health Strategies
Click Here:
Click Here:
WC Calculator: http://www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers' comp issues.
© 2010 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
