The city sets an example for workplace safety
The City of Winnipeg has become the largest organization in Manitoba to receive SAFE Work Certification, an achievement that underscores the city's dedication to the safety and health of its employees.
The certification process began in 2018 and was an important milestone in the city's journey toward creating a safer workplace.
According to Kent Blackmon, the organizational safety services manager, the journey towards SAFE Work Certification has been beneficial from both a program and culture perspective.
“Our journey to SAFE Work Certification has been beneficial from both a program and culture perspective, and continues to showcase the efforts our leaders, employees, and safety and health committees make every day to keep our workplace safe,” said Blackmon.
With a workforce of over 10,000 and a wide range of departments, the certification is especially meaningful for the City of Winnipeg.
The final areas of the organization to be certified included the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service as well as the Water Treatment Facilities, Pollution Control Centers, and Regional Collections areas of the Water & Waste Department.
The city received official certification on April 15, 2023.
Michael Jack, the city's chief administrative officer, believes that the certification will make a real difference to employees' safety and well-being.
“This represents a tremendous investment of time and effort on the part of everyone involved – and we believe that certification will make a real difference to employees’ safety and well-being,” said Jack.
The road to SAFE Work Certification was a rigorous process that involved closely examining all of the city's safety plans to ensure effective systems were in place to prevent hazards.
The certification is offered by industry-based safety programs and associations and ensures consistent application of effective safety and health management practices, which leads to fewer injuries and illnesses for workers.
The City of Winnipeg is also the first Workers Compensation Board individually-assessed organization in Manitoba to achieve SAFE Work Certification, a testament to the city's commitment to creating a safe and healthy workplace for all its employees.
The journey towards SAFE Work Certification would not have been possible without the commitment of the city's 37 safety and health committees and their over 400 members, who promote safety, health, and wellness in the workplace every day, said Blackmon.
However, the city's journey toward creating a safer workplace does not end with certification. Ongoing efforts of employees, leaders, and safety and health committees are needed to continue to strengthen the city's safety culture and prevent occupational injury and illness.
The City of Winnipeg's achievement in becoming the largest SAFE Work Certified organization in Manitoba is a significant step forward in creating a safe and healthy workplace for all employees.
The certification is a testament to the city's dedication to the safety and well-being of its workforce, and it is hoped that this achievement will inspire other organizations to follow suit in creating safer workplaces.
