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What is the Safety Group Program?
The Safety Group Program rewards firms that incorporate prevention measures into their daily business. The key idea behind the program is that a well-integrated workplace health and safety program makes good business sense. Firms from similar or different businesses volunteer to form a group with a collective purpose: to learn from each others experience in the implementation and continuous improvement of injury and illness prevention programs.
How does the Safety Group Program Work?At the beginning of each year, your firm selects five safety elements that it will initiate or improve upon from the Safety Group's Achievement List provided by the WSIB.
Your firm will learn how to implement these initiatives by attending meetings, sharing ideas and pooling resources with other firms in the Safety Group. At the end of the year, your group can receive a rebate, based on the entire group's success in implementing their selected safety elements. In each subsequent year, a firm is required to maintain their elements from the previous year and pick five new elements.
Can my company join a Safety Group?To participate in the Safety Group Program, your firm must:
- Have commitment from senior management to participate in the program
- Create and enhance a safety culture in the workplace
- Be a Schedule 1 firm in good standing with the WSIB
- Be committed to participating for a least one full calendar year
- Participate in only one safety group at a time
- Not be a member of the Safe Communities Incentive Program (SCIP)
Access to Professionals: Support and guidance from our Safety Group Coordinator and EAC and CME staff and members
Reduction in lost time injury frequency and severity rates: The 2004 EAC CME Safety Group realized a 45.64% reduction in frequency and a 49.18% reduction in severity
On-site training: In addition to the training offered at each meeting, we can organize specialized training to assist you in completing your elements
EAC and CME Resources: Discounts for EAC and CME conferences and workshops held across the province, publications and up-to-date information
Networking Opportunities: In person at group meetings or by email with participants across Ontario to share best practices, policies and procedures, experiences and the ability to mentor other firms. EAC also maintains a web page exclusively for the Safety Group that includes meeting dates and locations, meeting minutes and handouts and a group contact list
Additional WSIB Rebate: Since 2000, our groups have shared in rebates totalling over $1,000,000.00!
HOW EAC/CME Contribute to the
Success of the Safety group
The Employers’ Advocacy Council (EAC) was one of the original nine sponsors of the program when it began in 2000. We were the first multi-sectoral Safety Group in Ontario. We bring eight years of experience coordinating a Safety Group and will provide:
- New Member Orientation
- A Senior Management Conference
- Coordination of four (4) regional meetings throughout the year at various sites across Ontario
- The required training and information at all group meetings
- Assistance with all documentation required by WSIB Element review at each group meeting
Jane Tooze, Safety Group Coordinator
Jane is a Certified Occupational Health Nurse with several years of experience in occupational health and safety. She has provided consultation services to employers on occupational health, safety, and disability management. She has conducted province-wide seminars on return-to-work programs and early intervention and assisted with the development of one-day conferences on current health and safety topics/issues and presented at conferences on health and safety topics.
Learn More About WSIB Safety Groups
2007 Safety Group Brochure |
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2008 Safety Group Application Form |
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