Regina, Sask., May 20, 2021 – Energy Safety Canada is among the first of seven provincial safety associations to sign the new funding agreement with the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). This agreement strengthens the partnership and the WCB’s close ties with each safety association as together we work to create safer workplaces in the province.
“The WCB has a long-standing partnership with our safety associations, such as Energy Safety Canada, to help address injury prevention in their sector through education, training and other prevention initiatives,” says Kevin Mooney, vice-president of prevention and employer services. “These close partnerships are vital to our provincial efforts and it is through these close working relationships that we can support the safety and prevention interests of all employers represented in the industry.”
The Saskatchewan WCB currently funds seven industry-based safety associations. Each safety association is governed by a board of directors representing employers and workers from the rate codes that fund the association. All safety associations follow a strategic planning process and report on their results against their plans to industry and the WCB. Safety associations are funded through an extra levy on the premium rates of employers within specific rate codes.
“Energy Safety Canada is pleased to sign the new safety funding agreement with WCB Saskatchewan," says Murray Elliott, president and CEO, Energy Safety Canada. "Working with partners like the WCB means Canada's oil and gas industry can take a unified approach to injury and incident prevention.”
Total injury rates for industries with safety associations have decreased from 5.46 per cent in 2016 to 4.74 per cent in 2020.
Specific to the oil and gas industry, the average Total injury rates for the oil industry (operation of oil wells and servicing, service rigs and water well drilling, and seismic drilling industries) have decreased from 2016 to 2020. The average Total injury rate for these four rate codes was 3.71 per 100 workers in 2020 compared to an average Total injury rate of 5.21 per 100 workers in 2016. This represents an average decrease of 28.68 per cent.
"We look forward to building on this positive relationship to continue accelerating worker safety, not only in Saskatchewan, but also across Canada," says Bob Ross, regional manager of Energy Safety Canada Saskatchewan.
The WCB’s new safety association funding agreement acknowledges that strong and effective governance leads to sustainable improvement and increases accountability at all levels. The new safety agreement will work to further support the safety association’s purpose and mandate. Through sharing of information, the WCB will continue to support the performance of all safety associations.
“We are very pleased and excited to continue to work with Energy Safety Canada and all of the safety associations in Saskatchewan,” says Mooney. “Safety associations play a vital role to help workers and employers prevent injuries in the workplace and we look forward to enhancing our relationships with our safety associations.”