Versacold Logistics awarded best overall in the province
Organizations and individuals across British Columbia were recognized for their efforts in promoting safety and health in the workplace.
Winners of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week and Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Achievement Recognition awards have been announced.
The best overall winner in the provincial NAOSH Week competition was Versacold Logistics and EV Logistics based in Delta, B.C. Employees and managers organized activities demonstrating the effects of what life could be like after a workplace injury, including one-handed hockey slap shot, eye-patch basketball and one-legged golf putting. They held a blood-drive clinic, a forklift rally competition, evacuation drills and health and fitness seminars.
Versacold was also awarded honourable mention in the Canadian national competition.
“We believe our efforts to make safety a priority in the organization has made a significant difference to the business, with reductions in time-loss accidents being a key indicator of this success,” said Mike Stephens, OHS Manager, Western Canada Versacold Logistics. “Since first participating in safety and health week in 2006, we have reduced time-loss accidents by 93 per cent and days lost by 90 per cent.”
Two organizations in B.C. were category winners in both the provincial and national NAOSH Week competitions. In the provincial event, the Squamish Nation in North Vancouver won for best new entry and the City of Kamloops won best of theme. Both organizations tied for best new entry in the competition across Canada.
Last year, more than 95,000 workplace injury claims and 143 fatal claims were accepted by WorkSafeBC. On average, 2,600 work injuries are reported every week and 17 workers are permanently disabled every working day.
“We congratulate all those who participated in activities for the week showing their commitment to health and safety,” says Scott McCloy, WorkSafeBC communications director. “We are a strong supporter of the NAOSH Week working committee here in B.C., which shares our vision for workers and workplaces free from injury and disease.”
