SAFETY GROUPS PROGRAM: HEALTH & SAFETY

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Service Sector Newsletter

ACSESS' Health & Safety Initiatives

In keeping with its commitment to promote best industry practices, the Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services (ACSESS) is an active sponsor in the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) Safety Group Program and is working closely with the WSIB and other health and safety groups to develop a standard health and safety manual for Canada's temporary services industry.

WSIB Safety Group Program:

The WSIB began piloting the Safety Group Program in 2001 to promote workplace self-reliance in health and safety and to give Ontario industries more control over their WSIB premiums.

ACSESS was one of six groups and the only group within the services sector to be selected from 18 candidates to enter the program in 2001. "We recognized this program as a vehicle to help our members improve safety practices and lower their WSIB premiums," says Mary McIninch, Manager, Public Affairs, ACSESS. Initially, 40 ACSESS Ontario member firms enlisted to participate with a collective purpose: to learn from each other's experience in implementing injury and illness prevention programs and by November, 2002, a total of 55 member accounts had signed on.

Each participating firm selects five safety elements to initiate or improve upon from an "achievement list" provided by the WSIB that includes: hazard recognition and assessment; organization; and leadership. They also agree to attend at least three safety group meetings per year, develop and implement an action plan to address their selected elements and complete a baseline and end-of-year assessment.

Paul Casey, Manager, Safety Groups program, WSIB, says "The pilot was a remarkable success. Firms in Safety Groups prevented over 250 more lost-time injuries than firms not part of the incentive. Their injury severity rates were lower too."

According to WSIB Research and Evaluation Branch, surveys conducted before and after implementation, both management and labour believed that things changed for the better. In the closing survey, workers expressed greater satisfaction with the health and safety of their workplace and were less concerned about being injured on the job.

As a sponsor, ACSESS oversees member companies' participation, liaises with the WSIB and other health and safety organizations, recruits new safety group members, measures progress and regularly reports to the WSIB. The association also encourages members to share ideas and pool resources by organizing joint meetings and leadership workshops and helps participants to develop action plans. The rewards to an individual firm can include:

  • Improved safety performance affecting the firm's individual experience rating (NEER, CAD-7, or MAP);
  • Fewer lost-time injuries and associated costs (the estimated average direct cost to a firm for an LTI is $35,000 - $40,000);
  • Increased financial competitiveness.

To date, participating ACSESS members have given the program high approval and enjoyed improvements in safety records, productivity and morale among temporary employees.

Safety Group Program members are also eligible but not guaranteed to receive a rebate on their WSIB premium, based on the proven success of the group's health and safety program. The greatest return, however, is measured in human terms: safer, healthier employees and ultimately, a better corporate image.

This program provides unparalleled opportunities for networking and mutual support and ensuring the group's success is in everyone's best interest - financial and otherwise," explains McIninch. "And ACSESS, as always, is there to help," she adds. ACSESS encourages members to sign on for 2005. Application forms are available online or by visiting the WSIB website. ACSESS also provides workshops with the WSIB, IAPA, OSSA and MOL to show how to implement health and safety improvements through out the year. To find out more, contact Mary McIninch or Marinella Nesso at 1-888-232-4962 or email acsess@acsess.org.

For more details on the WSIB's program, visit www.wsib.on.ca and look for the "Safety Groups Program" link in the Incentives section of the Prevention menu.

Safety Group Minutes

 

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