Incentives for businesses focused on safety in workplace.

• Author: TOMLINSON, MARLA
• Position: Brief Article

Safety and prevention in all aspects of life are getting a high profile lately, but especially in the workplace, says Ron Lovelock, 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 has incentive programs in place. One of these programs is the Safe Communities. Incentive Program (SCIP).

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. 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, co-chain with the coalition in Thunder Bay.

Local safe community programs, like the one in Thunder Bay, are part of a larger umbrella organization 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...