Health and safety leadership charter
History
Through 2008 and 2009, WorkSafe Saskatchewan (the partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety) and Safe Saskatchewan (a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating workplace injuries), continued looking for opportunities to enlist Saskatchewan business, government, union and community leaders in a fight against the provincial, unintentional injury epidemic. While Saskatchewan represented three per cent of the Canadian population, it carried a disproportionate share of the number of unintentional injuries at seven per cent.
Launched in April 2005 by the president and CEO of Bruce Power in Ontario and managed by the Conference Board of Canada, the Health and Safety Leadership Charter was created to achieve a Canada-wide breakthrough in health and safety performance. In 2009, WorkSafe Saskatchewan and Safe Saskatchewan entered into discussions with the Conference Board of Canada around the possibility of bringing the charter to Saskatchewan. During those discussions, it was decided that Saskatchewan would create its own regional charter.
As a result, Safe Saskatchewan hosted the first Health and Safety Charter event in Saskatchewan on June 10, 2010. Interested charter signatories (organization and company leaders) gathered together to discuss safety and injury prevention in the workplace and Saskatchewan communities. The inaugural event ended with the signing of the Health and Safety Leadership Charter, where leaders publicly committed to the seven principles of the charter.
Health and Safety Leadership Charter
Saskatchewan’s Health and Safety Leadership Charter establishes these principles that leaders commit to support:
- Subscribe to the principle that nothing is more important than the health, safety and well-being of employees, contractors, clients, customers, visitors and, if and whenever possible, the surrounding community.
- Integrate health and safety into business strategies, processes and performance measures, and recognize that good health and safety performance supports good business results.
- Effectively manage health and safety risks by eliminating, minimizing or controlling hazards.
- Strive for continuous health and safety improvement and provide the leadership and internal capacity to make this happen.
- Provide an environment that enables all employees to participate and work collaboratively in developing, promoting, and improving health and safety at work.
- Extend health and safety efforts, if and whenever possible, beyond the workplace, recognizing and supporting related initiatives within the community.
- Participate within a health and safety leadership learning community by providing and receiving information and best practices, with the goal of continually improving health and safety strategies, programming and performance.
Annual charter event
The Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter has attracted leaders from business, government and the community to commit to change and continuous improvement. Saskatchewan needs to end the epidemic of preventable injuries.
For 10 years, Safe Saskatchewan co-ordinated and held an annual Saskatchewan Health and Safety Leadership Charter event. This event was maintained as the premier occasion for charter signatory leaders to gather, network, learn and share stories about the successes and challenges in the cultural transformation process. The second Thursday of June of each year was designated for this purpose.
In 2021, WorkSafe Saskatchewan took over the Health and Safety Leadership Charter and is looking at plans to continue this initiative.
How to become a charter member
Business-to-business communication, collaboration in injury prevention and a healthy workforce are key to improving Saskatchewan’s injury prevention and population health. As community leaders publicly support the Health and Safety Leadership Charter and the value of health and safety in all areas of life, WorkSafe believes the wider population of Saskatchewan will embrace a culture where health and safety is paramount.
By working together, Saskatchewan business leaders can be instrumental in improving the lives of Saskatchewan people, enhancing the economic environment for businesses, and saving millions of dollars in health and social costs, one workplace and one community at a time.
For more information on becoming a charter member, please email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Q: Why should I sign the charter?
A: Signing the charter is a serious commitment you should think about. If you’re an organizational leader who shares the vision of a safe Saskatchewan, this is one way to increase the profile of health, safety and injury prevention within your own sphere of influence.
Q: Do I have to re-sign the charter every year?
A: No, but WorkSafe would like you to attend the annual charter event. Your presence and your experience as a signatory are an important component of the leadership community.
Q: Who from my organization can and should sign the Health and Safety Leadership Charter?
A: The owner, CEO or member of the senior management team of an organization may sign the charter.
