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Safety pays! And this program proves it
Just do what's good for your company - and get a 5% cash rebate on your WCB
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Steve Torrence, executive director, Safety Network
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It's tantamount to free money.
It's easy to get started.
You'll receive a minimum of $500 a year - one company has been receiving cheques of over $70,000.
And your employees will thank you for it to boot!
Do we have your attention?
Because the Safety Network would like to get your attention too.
Such windfalls are available to you through the Worksite Partnership Program - more commonly known as the 5% program.
It is part of a new COR (Certificate Of Recognition) program established by the Safety Network in partnership with ICBA, the BC Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association, and BC Workers' Compensation Board.
Companies already enrolled have been reducing accidents and have been receiving a 5% cash rebate - or a minimum $500 - on their actual WCB premiums.
And they've been receiving a further benefit - their WCB ratings have been improving and thus their overall premiums have also been dropping, saving them even more.
The ease with which you can start in the program depends on the size of your company, points out Steve Torrence, the Safety Network's executive director.
Companies with a total assessable payroll under $1 million, must satisfy fewer requirements and require less training.
All the 5% rebates are distributed by the Safety Network twice a year but you don't have to wait a full year before receiving your first payment.
"To encourage people to get started, they will receive a 2.5% rebate as soon as they have applied and taken the half-day owners' course," Mr. Torrence points out.
"Then, once they've finished the other required courses and completed an internal audit, they will receive the remaining 2.5% for that year."
The company owner or CEO must complete a half-day "owner's" course, but other than that, another employee can be designated to take the training.
The annual safety audit is done in-house by the person who takes an auditor training course, and there's an external or peer audit required every fourth year.
Mr. Torrence says training sessions are scheduled around the province and the number of locations is expanding as more people become aware of the program and want to join.
Beyond the financial incentives, there is another advantage to signing up, Mr. Torrence adds, and that's protection for company owners and CEOs against Canada's new criminal negligence legislation - legislation that is unique in the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries.
With the introduction of Bill C45 last year, company owners and CEOs can be held legally responsible for workplace negligence causing death. Such charges can now lead to heavy fines and even prison terms for the company's owner or CEO.
However, with a COR program in operation and being followed, a company will - as part of the process - also be following a due diligence process that is now expected within Canada's legislation, Mr. Torrence adds.
Do you have any comments or questions about this article? If you do, contact us!
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