Join park district's 365-day 'accident-free' celebration
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

Camarillo residents are invited to join the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District for its "Workplace Accident Free for 365 Days" celebration Wed., July 18.

A ceremony commending some 100 park district employees will be held in the Freedom Shop on 380 Skyway Drive in Camarillo at 11 a.m. with refreshments.

Accidents in prior years have made this ceremony significant, said Mark Carlson, board clerk and administrative assistant.

Because many of the park district's employees work outdoors helping to maintain the city's 22 parks and facilities, the daily work is often physically demanding and at risk for onjob injuries.

District employees use chain saws for landscaping, drive large vehicles and industrialsized lawn mowers, climb trees and sometimes handle wild animals, Carlson said.

"It's such physical work and so demanding that it's incredible to have this many days go by without an accident," he said.

Safety is a major concern among park district employees, said Daniel L. Labrado, general manager.

To reach the 365-day mark without an injury, the employees learn and practice techniques with the park's safety committee, Labrado said.

The committee's responsibility is to ensure the workplace is a safe environment, while noting how many days go by without an injury. Signs posted throughout the parks keep the number in plain view for residents, Labrado said.

Labrado said reaching the year mark without injury is a cause for celebration.

"It was quite a surprise," Labrado said. "One day we saw that the signs read '365 days' and we thought the staff deserved a little recognition. This is just our way of saying thank you."