Workplace Safety North (WSN), an approved provider of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) Health and Safety Excellence program, is now inviting Ontario forest products and mining companies to apply by February 17, 2023.
The popular Excellence program helps businesses develop their own workplace health and safety programs, and network with industry professionals, all with the potential for earning a WSIB premium rebate. Registration for the 2023 program, which guides and rewards businesses for the activities undertaken to help keep workers and the public safe, is now open.
“Keeping workers safe and healthy at work is good for business,” says Lisa Dupuis, WSN Health and Safety Specialist. “The Health and Safety Excellence program is a performance-based rewards program that supports the development of a strong and functional health and safety program for businesses.
“The program provides a clear roadmap for businesses to improve safety in the workplace, whether they’re just starting out or want to improve systems and processes they already have in place. Businesses that are successful in the program earn rebates and other non-financial recognition,” says Dupuis.
“New for this year, the program is divided into two streams, one for larger businesses with 100 or more employees, and one for smaller businesses with 99 or fewer employees.
“Small businesses are also eligible to receive additional rebates to help cover registration costs and be rewarded for the successful completion of selected health and safety topics,” says Dupuis, “so, that is a great incentive for small business owners to sign up.”
According to Mike Patenaude, Health, Safety and Environment Manager with Foraco International, “The program allowed us to identify gaps within our health and safety system requiring improvement.” The mining drilling services company has experienced improved safety and cost savings since joining the program when it started in 2020.
“Potential exposures to hazards are being communicated across all sites in real-time, and deficiencies identified in the field are actively tracked until they are corrected.”
Patenaude recommends other firms join the program and says it’s comparable to other safety certification programs, but says “the self-directed approach allows for greater flexibility to develop, execute, maintain and adjust your health and safety program to meet your industries and project-specific demands.
“It is not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all standard. You choose the topics to focus on and that way the program is customized to meet the needs of your firm.”
For more information, visit workplacesafetynorth.ca/
