Workers at award-winning B.C. firm play one-handed hockey, eye-patch basketball
Instead of a presentation on what life could be like after a workplace injury, one company had its employees get a first-hand glimpse.
Versacold Logistics and EV Logistics, a Delta, B.C.-based transportation company, had its employees participate in events to show them what their favourite leisure activities might be like without full mobility. Employees played one-handed hockey slap shot, eye-patch basketball and one-legged golf putting.
Versacold’s safety program, which also includes traditional elements like evacuation drills and health seminars, was meant to give staff some insight, said Mike Stephens, OHS manager, Western Canada Versacold Logistics.
“The staff really enjoyed the chance to participate in these activities,” he said. “Making the activities fun enabled them to gain some perspective into consequences of unsafe acts, and we were able to get a lot more interest and participation from the staff.”
Versacold was rewarded for its efforts with the honour of best overall winner in the British Columbia North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week and Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Achievement Recognition awards. The company also received an honourable mention in the Canadian national competition.
The events were planned by volunteers — Versacold calls them NAOSH champions — who come up with ideas for the events, then work with management to roll them out, said Stephens.
“The champions have some really innovative and creative ideas for safety week,” he said.
“And who better to spark the interests of their coworkers than their peers.”
Like many medium to large size companies in Canada, Versacold has a good written safety program, said Stephens.
“What really makes the difference is the strong focus from our executive and the management teams at each of our warehouses to create safe workplaces,” he said.
Since first participating in safety and health week in 2006, the company has reduced its time-loss accidents by 93 per cent and days lost by 90 per cent.
“Over the past 6 years, we have seen dramatic reductions to lost time accidents and days lost due to injuries,” said Stephens. “By far this is the most important outcome from the increased safety focus in our company.”
The planning and work that goes into events like this one are important because of what they contribute in working towards the end goal of zero injuries.
“We believe every accident is preventable and we take pride in providing safe workplaces for our staff,” he said.
Creative elements like the sports-based activities are part of what set Versacold apart from the pack of entries received by the competition, said Kathy Tull, WorkSafeBC industry specialist.
The provincial awards competition typically receives between 60 and 100 applications each year. Submissions are judged based on criteria including innovation and creativity, the activities they do, activities in the community and long term benefit of the activities.
Versacold had a successful competition for the children of employees to help involve the community, said Tull.
The company also held a blood-drive clinic and a forklift rally as part of its safety program this past year.
For the forklift rally, the company had employees compete, then sent the best to a competition held by the Canadian Materials Handling and Distribution Society, said Tull.
“So they had the best of their best go on the competition in June,” she said. “That was really well done.”
The awards competition has been well received in the province overall, said Tull.
“People have been embracing it, starting their planning early in the year or even right after the previous safety and health week.”
Anecdotally, Tull said she hears the competition motivates companies to do more health and safety work year round.
“Committees get so excited and start planning early and it gets that whole feeling of involvement in safety, “she said.
“The positiveness gets going, the safety culture then starts to present itself.”
A number of the winners this year have been involved in NAOSH week before but “are really kicking it up a notch each year,” she said.
“So it’s becoming part of their business.”
NAOSH week is only one week, but its impact lasts all year, she said.
“That excitement really lasts.”
Like most companies Versacold creates safety goals and targets annually.
The company regularly measures its progress to meeting those targets, said Stephens.
“If the goals are achieved, we recognize the achievement by holding celebrations with our staff,” he said.
“The more engaged the staff are in the business, the more likely they will contribute to the overall success of the company.”
Versacold Logistics and EV Logistics, a Delta, B.C.-based transportation company, had its employees participate in events to show them what their favourite leisure activities might be like without full mobility. Employees played one-handed hockey slap shot, eye-patch basketball and one-legged golf putting.
Versacold’s safety program, which also includes traditional elements like evacuation drills and health seminars, was meant to give staff some insight, said Mike Stephens, OHS manager, Western Canada Versacold Logistics.
“The staff really enjoyed the chance to participate in these activities,” he said. “Making the activities fun enabled them to gain some perspective into consequences of unsafe acts, and we were able to get a lot more interest and participation from the staff.”
Versacold was rewarded for its efforts with the honour of best overall winner in the British Columbia North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week and Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Achievement Recognition awards. The company also received an honourable mention in the Canadian national competition.
The events were planned by volunteers — Versacold calls them NAOSH champions — who come up with ideas for the events, then work with management to roll them out, said Stephens.
“The champions have some really innovative and creative ideas for safety week,” he said.
“And who better to spark the interests of their coworkers than their peers.”
Like many medium to large size companies in Canada, Versacold has a good written safety program, said Stephens.
“What really makes the difference is the strong focus from our executive and the management teams at each of our warehouses to create safe workplaces,” he said.
Since first participating in safety and health week in 2006, the company has reduced its time-loss accidents by 93 per cent and days lost by 90 per cent.
“Over the past 6 years, we have seen dramatic reductions to lost time accidents and days lost due to injuries,” said Stephens. “By far this is the most important outcome from the increased safety focus in our company.”
The planning and work that goes into events like this one are important because of what they contribute in working towards the end goal of zero injuries.
“We believe every accident is preventable and we take pride in providing safe workplaces for our staff,” he said.
Creative elements like the sports-based activities are part of what set Versacold apart from the pack of entries received by the competition, said Kathy Tull, WorkSafeBC industry specialist.
The provincial awards competition typically receives between 60 and 100 applications each year. Submissions are judged based on criteria including innovation and creativity, the activities they do, activities in the community and long term benefit of the activities.
Versacold had a successful competition for the children of employees to help involve the community, said Tull.
The company also held a blood-drive clinic and a forklift rally as part of its safety program this past year.
For the forklift rally, the company had employees compete, then sent the best to a competition held by the Canadian Materials Handling and Distribution Society, said Tull.
“So they had the best of their best go on the competition in June,” she said. “That was really well done.”
The awards competition has been well received in the province overall, said Tull.
“People have been embracing it, starting their planning early in the year or even right after the previous safety and health week.”
Anecdotally, Tull said she hears the competition motivates companies to do more health and safety work year round.
“Committees get so excited and start planning early and it gets that whole feeling of involvement in safety, “she said.
“The positiveness gets going, the safety culture then starts to present itself.”
A number of the winners this year have been involved in NAOSH week before but “are really kicking it up a notch each year,” she said.
“So it’s becoming part of their business.”
NAOSH week is only one week, but its impact lasts all year, she said.
“That excitement really lasts.”
Like most companies Versacold creates safety goals and targets annually.
The company regularly measures its progress to meeting those targets, said Stephens.
“If the goals are achieved, we recognize the achievement by holding celebrations with our staff,” he said.
“The more engaged the staff are in the business, the more likely they will contribute to the overall success of the company.”
