The purpose of the Charter is to bring together C-Suite Leaders who understand the principle that the effective management of health and safety is essential to the long term profitability and sustainability of their companies and spread the message to other leaders in the corporate world.
The business case for health and safety is well documented. By working together we hope, not only to drive profits and productivity up but bring injury rates down, establishing ourselves as corporately responsible citizens and making a difference in the shape of health and safety in BC industry.
We Believe That Together We Can: Reduce Injury Rates, Reduce Workplace Insurance Premiums, Increase Productivity, Increase Profits, and Demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Stewardship.
The Business Case
Measuring the Return on Investment when a company commits to a culture of workplace safety?
Insurance Premiums
We know we can reduce insurance premiums.
Employers in the Food and Beverage Processing, Manufacturing and other industries have saved millions as a result of better health and safety, reduced injury rates and reduced WorkSafeBC premiums.
Injury Rates
We know we can reduce injury rates.
A concerted effort on the part of industry leaders in Food and Beverage Processing, Manufacturing and other industries has managed to bring down injury rates significantly.
Productivity
We know a safe and healthy workplace is a more productive workplace.
How do we know? Our members have told us.
One of the key methods of communication we rely on is the Breakfast Forums hosted by Charter Signatories. One of the things we’ve learned from those sessions is that when you improve health and safety you:
- ✔ Reduce time lost incidents
- ✔ Reduce absenteeism
- ✔ Reduce staff turnover
- ✔ Increase worker satisfaction and engagement
- ✔ Increase worker satisfaction and engagement
- ✔ Increase productivity
Profits
We know a more productive workplace with a low injury rate is more profitable workplace.
How do we know? One of our Signatories said it best:
“When I started down this path, we had a great safety record, but I realized we viewed it as just a part of the job, not as a culture within our organization that needed to be developed and embraced by all our staff. We needed to continually recognize our vulnerabilities when working in the many different environments we deploy our staff into each and every day.”
Rick Gibbs
Owner, Neutron Factory Works
“Our workplaces and our province are better off when we cultivate workplace cultures that support and encourage safety. When organizations put safety first, they are fundamentally putting people first.”
“I value the group and the experience it provides. I find the breakfast forums are always interesting and bring forward new ideas and sometimes discussions on challenges that are similar to my own experiences. Often the solutions are from a different industry and they are very helpful.”
What Happens Once I Sign?
Signing the BC Safety Charter is just the beginning. As a Charter Signatory, or “Champion to the Cause”, we ask that your actions speak louder than words and that you actively participate in spreading the word.
It is a good news story that adopting an effective Safety Culture is more than a priority for an organization. It is much more than that. An effective Safety Culture is a value; something that never changes and isn’t subject to climactic or operational variances.
We value and appreciate your participation. We are confident that this initiative will realize our vision of reducing injury in the workplace and of building a successful network of C-Suite Leaders who can help one another achieve their business goals.
As a Charter Member, we ask you to consider:
- Host a Breakfast Session, inviting other like-minded people you think would like to become a Champion of the Charter
- Help promote our regional outreach program by connecting with associates in communities throughout BC
- Attend a Charter Forum to discover strategies and initiatives that promote safety as a core value, drive injury rates down, and help reduce WorkSafeBC premiums
- Attend our Annual Roundtable
- Become an active member of a health and safety association
- Lead by example; embark upon or enhance an existing OH&S program
Start the Journey
Now that you know more about the Executive Health and Safety Council of BC and the BC Safety Charter and what the commitment involves, we’d like to meet you and help to you to begin your journey with us.
When you complete this form a Charter Signatory or representative will be in touch with you to help get things going.
If you have any further questions about signing the BC Safety Charter please give George W. Higgins a call at 604.802.7315 or email at gwhiggins@ehscbc.ca.
Suite 600, 777 Hornby St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 1S4 | Phone: 778-776-6136 | gwhiggins@ehscbc.ca