The Ministry of Labor and the Center for Occupational Accident Prevention and Rehabilitation (COAPRE) held their highly anticipated annual event for occupational accident workers - the Occupational Accident Care Carnival - on August 24 at the Taichung City Hall Square. The event featured over 30 food stalls, with free treats available to those who participated in interactive games. The carnival kicked off with a lively performance by the local "Smiling Angels Taiko Drum Team" and included inspirational stories from two occupational accident survivors. These individuals shared their journey of overcoming adversity to become street performers, spreading joy and love through their performances.

Occupational accidents often strike without warning, drastically altering the lives of injured workers and casting a shadow over their families. The COAPRE aims to create a positive and uplifting atmosphere through events like the Care Carnival, providing hope and encouragement to those impacted by workplace accidents. After the resounding success of last year’s inaugural Occupational Accident Care Carnival held in Taipei and Kaohsiung, this year, the COAPRE expanded the event to three sessions, including its first-ever appearance in Taichung.

The theme for this year's carnival, "Preventing Occupational Accidents, Towards a Brighter Future," celebrated the courage of injured workers overcoming adversity and aimed to foster a deeper respect for the lives and health of all workers within the joyful atmosphere of the event. The COAPRE emphasized that the primary goal of the carnival is to highlight the needs and well-being of occupational accident workers while enhancing the public's awareness of workplace safety and accident prevention. The event also aims to encourage businesses to create a safer and more secure working environment. By linking occupational accident prevention networks and sharing rehabilitation resources through collaboration between central and local governments, the ultimate objective is to achieve "zero occupational accidents."

The carnival featured over 30 food stalls and more than 20 interactive workplace safety activities, including a "Fall Arresting Experience" and a "High-Altitude VR Simulation." Participants who completed these activities could exchange points for free treats and enter a prize draw, ensuring that everyone left with unforgettable memories. The event began with a powerful performance by the "Smiling Angels Taiko Drum Team" from the Taichung City Welfare for the Disabled Association. Their energetic and captivating performance set a vibrant tone for the festivities.

During the event's midpoint, two injured workers shared their inspiring journeys. Mr. Lin, a former forklift operator, sustained a cervical spine injury while attempting to support falling cargo and suffered further damage after a subsequent movement. Despite now relying on a wheelchair, Mr. Lin refused to give up. With the encouragement of his family and a commitment to rehabilitation, he found a new path as a part-time street performer after his retirement. Another speaker, known as "Tutu," was also a street performer who sustained a finger fracture after being caught in a conveyor belt while working in food transportation. Unemployed for six months and under heavy financial pressure, Tutu turned his life around by advocating for the importance of safety management and training to prevent workplace accidents, using his own experience to call for a safer society.