Health and safety specialist explains how to earn a WSIB rebate
Workplace Safety North has opened registration for all Ontario forest products and mining companies to apply for the WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program. It is an opportunity for companies to earn a WSIB premium rebate while developing a workplace health and safety program and networking with industry professionals.
“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.”
Dupuis says aside from the WSIB rebate, the motivation for enrolling in the program should be to create a safer work environment.
“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.
The program is divided into two streams, one for larger businesses with more than 100 employees, and one for small businesses, which can also take advantage of additional rebates to rebates to help recover registration costs.
Mike Patenaude is the health, safety, and environment manager with Foraco International, and he says the program helped the company identify safety gaps and make improvements while saving money.
“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,” says Patenaude, who adds the program allows for a flexible, self-directed approach.
“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,” says Patenaude.
Companies must apply by February 17, 2023.
