WorkSafe announces 2020 Safe Worker and Safe Employer Award winners

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Regina, Sask., May 4, 2020: Today, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, announced the winners of the 2020 Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards.

Each year, WorkSafe Saskatchewan presents the Safe Worker award to a worker who goes beyond the expectations of their position to help create a safer workplace. The 2020 WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safe Worker Award winner is Tasia Smith, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Regina. The runner-up finalists for the 2020 Safe Worker Award are Dustin Bertsch, Black and McDonald Limited, Saskatoon and Dianne Addley, Canada Post, Saskatoon.

The Safe Employer Award is presented to a best practice employer who builds safety into every task. The 2020 Safe Employer Award winner is Northern Mat & Bridge Limited Partnership, Yorkton, Sask. The runner-up finalists for the 2020 Safe Employer Award are Triple A Directional Drilling Ltd., Yorkton, Sask. and Pryme Iron Inc., Langenburg, Sask.

“At WorkSafe Saskatchewan and the WCB, we feel it’s important to recognize workers and employers in our province who go above and beyond to keep their workplaces safe,” said Annette Goski, the WCB’s director of prevention. “The Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards are one way that we encourage workers and employers to create safe workplaces in our province. Implementing effective health and safety management systems and practices saves lives.”

Workplace peers and colleagues nominate the recipients of these awards. Two committees representing WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, the Saskatchewan Safety Council and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers adjudicate the nominations.

“We are pleased to see the steps workers and employers are taking to keep workers safe on the job,” said Goski. “Congratulations to the winners and the finalists. Together, we can continue bringing our province’s workplace injury rates down.”

About the 2020 winners:

Tasia Smith, 2020 Safe Worker Award winner

Tasia works as an administrative assistant with Ducks Unlimited and has made many contributions to workplace safety within the organization. She identified the need for a safety process for their field staff when travelling around the province. Tasia began by researching local best practices and leveraging existing processes and forms utilized in other provinces.

The result was a vehicle safety binder that was rolled out to all the staff at their annual provincial meeting. The vehicle safety binder includes vehicle inspection forms, field level hazard assessment forms and other essential information related to safety and incident reporting processes. Check-in/check-out procedures were also implemented and vehicles are now equipped with safety bags, first aid kits and fire extinguishers. Tasia’s initiative has contributed to the safety of their field staff over the entire province.

Northern Mat & Bridge Limited Partnership, 2020 Safe Employer Award winner

Northern Mat & Bridge Limited Partnership (NMB) was chosen as this year’s safe employer because they believe and practice active participation, training and education, for the elimination of workplace injuries.

They have a health, safety and environment incentive program to recognize and reward staff for outstanding safety practices like hazard identification, near miss reports, positive observations, coaching, exceptional driving behavior reports and overall safety commitment empowers their staff to eliminate injuries in the workplace.

Most recently NMB led in the development of a magnetic grapple system to reduce incidents related to work near overhead powerlines.

Fast facts:

  • WorkSafe Saskatchewan has presented the Safe Worker Award annually since 2006.
  • WorkSafe Saskatchewan founded the Safe Employer Award in 2007 to honour an employer who shows leadership in health and safety beyond the requirements of the industry and legislation.
  • Profiles of each of the 2020 finalists, as well as a complete list of committee members and past winners, are available on the WorkSafe website at worksafesask.ca/safe-worker and www.worksafesask.ca/safe-employer
  • In 2019, for the fourth year in a row, 88 per cent of Saskatchewan employers achieved Mission: Zero.
Contact

For more information, please contact:

Bonnie Monteith

Manager, Marketing, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board

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Awards