1 minute read
MESSAGE FROM LESLIE GALWAY, CEO, WHSCC
Safety requires teamwork.
Our challenge now is to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses even further. Get involved. Safety starts with you.
Advertisement
Leslie Galway
Chief Executive Officer, WHSCC and CEO Safety Charter Signatory
The safety performance in Newfoundland and Labrador has improved dramatically over the past 15 years. But, we have now reached an interesting place in the health and safety story of our province.
We are extremely pleased that the losttime incidence rate is the lowest that it has ever been in Newfoundland and Labrador. But, it has plateaued, remaining at 1.6 per 100 workers for the third year. How do we bring this rate down further?
Up until now, the Commission has worked with its partners using the 3 E’s in health and safety to prevent injuries: education, engineering and enforcement. We have reached a new era, and it is time to add 3 more E’s: empathy, empowerment and engagement. We need to understand each other, empower others to make a difference and actively cooperate so that no one gets hurt or sick on the job.
The Commissionwill continue to work towards its strategic priorities of fostering a client-centric culture, facilitating recovery at work, leading injury prevention through collaboration and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the workplace injury compensation system.
The Commission is now financially secure, with $1.1 billion in its injury fund and being 112 per cent funded. We are continuing to focus on high-risk areas and creating awareness around preventing workplace injuries and illness in those areas, particularly for known occupational disease, serious injuries and violence in the workplace.
On behalf of the Commission, I’d like to personally thank our staff for their ongoing commitment to improve services for our clients. I’d also like to acknowledge our clients, employers, stakeholders and safety associations for their role in improving the health and safety of workplaces in our province.
Let’s all join in the challenge to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses even further.
Leslie Galway
CEO, Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission
