Courtenay's Job Security Program Awarded

The City of Courtenay has been recognized for a sizable reduction in both the number and severity of employee injuries over the last decade.

The City has received a 2022 Safety Improvement Award from the BC Municipal Safety Association.

In the last ten years, the City has seen a more than 60 percent overall decrease in the number of employee injuries.

The City was recognized at the Joint Public Works Association and BC Municipal Safety Association Annual Conference in October and council was updated on the award and safety program this week.

Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells says the city’s safety record is enviable and he acknowledges the contributions of every single City employee for the achievement.

“We are so proud of the city’s safety program,” said Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells. “Our enviable safety record helps ensure our employees are safe. Every injury we prevent is a worker saved from harm, and I want to recognize the contribution of each and every city employee to this achievement.

“I was pretty open about my father dying in an accident at work when I was a kid,” Wells added. “It affected my family deeply and changed the course of our lives. I speak up because I know I’m not alone, and by raising awareness we can help emphasize the importance of safety in the workplace. This affects me personally, so I’m incredibly proud of the city’s continued and proactive efforts toward our award-winning safety program.”

In a release, the City says managers and supervisors coordinate health and safety training, establish control measures, and ensure reporting systems are followed, with ongoing monitoring, while workers are encouraged to speak up when they see something unsafe.

The City says that thanks to below-average injury rates and time loss, it  pays 15 per cent less than the industry base rate in WorkSafe insurance premiums.