Incentives for businesses focused on safety in workplace.Safety and prevention in all aspects of life are getting a high profile lately, but especially in the workplace, says Ron Lovelock love·lock n. A lock of hair hanging separately from the rest of the hair, as one tied with ribbon and worn by courtiers during the 17th and 18th centuries. , director of prevention services at Workplace Safety Insurance Board. "Right now, we're seeing a whole society-wide move towards safety and prevention," Lovelock says. "Safety is really in the forefront, especially in the workplace." In order to promote safety and prevention, WSIB WSIB Workplace Safety and Insurance Board WSIB Washington State Investment Board has incentive programs in place. One of these programs is the Safe Communities. Incentive Program (SCIP SCIP Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals SCIP Surgical Care Improvement Project SCIP Society for Computers In Psychology SCIP Sussex Community Internet Project (UK) ). By joining SCIP, employers are able to earn premium savings by teaming up with other employers to improve health and safety, he says. Under SCIP, if the combined claims costs of the registered employers in the community are lower than expected, the employers share 75 per cent of the total saving. SCIP is now in 20 communities in Ontario Communities in the province of Ontario, Canada Note: this is a list of communities, not necessarily organized municipalities. For a list of organized municipalities and other census subdivisions see list of census subdivisions in Ontario. . To join in SCIP, the community must be part of the Safe Communities Coalition. Safe Communities Coalitions are designed to develop, promote and support a community culture focused on safety and well-being, says Sue Armstrong Sue Armstrong (born December 14, 1973 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan) is a former field hockey player from Canada, who earned 51 caps for the Women's Senior National Team during her career. , co-chain with the coalition in Thunder Bay Thunder Bay, city (1991 pop. 113,946), SW Ont., Canada, on Thunder Bay inlet of Lake Superior. The city was created in 1970 by the amalgamation of the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and two adjoining townships. . Local safe community programs, like the one in Thunder Bay, are part of a larger umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or under the Safe Communities Foundation, a national organization committed to preventing injuries and making Canada the safest country in the world to live, learn, work and play. The concept behind the coalition is to bring together community leaders, small-business owners, large corporations and local agencies to make effective health and safety programs to meet local needs. "There are many different areas we're looking at, mostly in the workplace and especially small businesses," Armstrong says, adding that every day in Ontario 25 young workers aged 15 to 25 are injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. . This adds up to 8,000 preventable injuries a year. Lovelock says many companies have already gained rebates for improved health and safety through the SCIP program. In the last two years, over $1 million has gone to communities who have been successful in SCIP. Registered participants in SCIP receive several incentives, including refunds on premiums, access to a health and safety consulting team, training programs and other resources, assistance in improving claims management and return-to-work management and an evaluation of the participant's health and safety management systems. A business may be eligible to participate in SCIP if the employer pays $90,000 or less. in WSIB premiums, completes the program's Safe Workplace Awareness training, completes an evaluation of the company's health and safety practices and the company is in one of the participating communities registered with SCIP, or is part of a community with a local steering committee steer·ing committee n. A committee that sets agendas and schedules of business, as for a legislative body or other assemblage. steering committee Noun , and an action plan approved by SCIP. Another incentive program offered by WSIB is the Safety Groups Program. "The Safety Groups Program brings businesses together to share their safety knowledge and learn from each other's knowledge and experiences," Lovelock says. The program offers financial incentives plus improvements to the health and safety of the business involved. |
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