COQUITLAM, B.C., Dec. 1, 2022 – Coquitlam is being recognized for its leadership in occupational health and safety for a fourth consecutive year with a provincial municipal safety award.
The British Columbia Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) named Coquitlam among the winners of its 2022 Organizational Safety Award, which recognizes B.C. local governments with a track record of reducing workplace injuries, illness, disease and fatalities.
A Culture of Safety
Coquitlam has received the Organizational Safety Award (OSA) each year since its 2019 launch by the BCMSA, an organization dedicated to B.C. local government worker health and safety.
OSA winners demonstrate a notable example of leadership, dedication and hard work in reducing the cost of claims by creating a safer and healthier workplace and helping injured workers recover and return to work. Coquitlam’s work in this area includes a modified/light-duty program that allows injured employees to continue to safely work as they heal.
The OSA is based on WorkSafeBC (WSBC) experience ratings, which assign employers either discounts or surcharges on their premiums based on an industry comparison of claim costs, taking into account organization sizes.
OSA winners have either achieved a consistent experience rating discount of 20 per cent or more over the past three years – as is the case for Coquitlam – or reduced their experience rating by 20 per cent over four years to achieve a discount by the end of three years.
Having maintained a WSBC experience rating discount of 20 per cent or more for 20 years, Coquitlam is considered a leader in local government occupational health and safety in B.C.
City Approach Saves Money
Along with the WSBC experience rating discounts, Coquitlam conducts annual safety audits through the BCMSA’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) program to qualify for additional financial incentives.
Coquitlam has received the COR for the past ten years, resulting in incentive cheques from WorkSafeBC (WSBC), totalling $1,990,789.
Media contact:
Renzo Del Negro
Director Human Resources
604-927-3070
hradmin@coquitlam.ca
