Safety isn’t a box to check. It’s not a resolution that you set and forget. But a new year brings the opportunity to set priorities and goals that will guide your company to success. Essential to this success is the health and safety of your team.
The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA) exists to support members year-round in all your safety endeavours. If your company works in residential, commercial & industrial construction or the construction trades and is registered with WCB, you are a member of the SCSA.
From plumbing, heating and electrical to home building to large-scale processing plants, commercial projects and other complex structures, our members are builders and tradespeople working in every region of the province. We provide safety training, certification programs, customized advice and resources to ensure your business and workforce remain healthy and strong all year round.
If you want to prevent injuries and improve your overall safety performance this year, here are four ways you can get the most value from your SCSA to reach those goals:
1. Train Like Your Life Depends on it
Construction sites vary greatly in the hazards that need to be addressed. Our training equips your team to do their jobs safely, no matter the project. With affordable instructor led courses offered both in person or online, it’s convenient and easy to access in-depth construction safety topics.
Popular courses include Fall Protection & Prevention, Safety Auditor, Confined Space Monitoring & Entry and Leadership for Safety Excellence. Industry professionals developed new courses for General Scaffolding Safety Training and Ground Disturbance for Construction to meet demand from members and provide necessary training tailored specifically for construction environments.
On Demand Training is available 24/7 anywhere in the province, so your team can train in a variety of topics at the time and pace that suits their busy schedules. Courses include construction safety essentials, leadership skills, mental health awareness, and more. These courses range in length based on the topic and depth of content.
For younger workers, newcomers or those needing a refresher, SCOT® is the essential training course for an introduction to construction safety. Delivered on demand, it covers workplace law, hazards, ladder and scaffold safety, fall protection, excavating and trenching, defensive driving, personal protective equipment, emergency response and more.
2. Get With The Program
Four nationally recognized certification programs supply companies and individuals with the knowledge and skills to develop and maintain an effective health and safety management system. These programs are proven to make a positive difference in safety performance and employers look to hire companies with these certifications because they know their commitment to safety can be trusted.
- The Certificate of Recognition (COR®) and Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR®) verify a company has implemented a health and safety program that meets national standards.
- The National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO™) and National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) programs provide formal training and national certification for construction safety professionals and administrators.
COR® gives companies a competitive advantage not only in winning bids but in attracting top talent who want to work at a place where safety is a top priority. For individuals, NCSO™ or NHSA™ certification helps advance your career, signal your dedication to safety excellence and demonstrate that your skills meet a national standard.
3. Ask For A Lifeline
If you have a safety-related question or problem, you are not alone. Reach out to our advisory services team who are ready to deliver hands-on assistance to companies at every stage of safety program development. There’s an advisor for every region of the province who can provide expert guidance, advice and services such as site inspections, hazard assessments, safety manual assistance, pre-audit checks and interactive safety demonstrations.
Book safety demos for your work site at no cost – these demonstrations are a great way to show proper safety practices in action and illustrate the importance of personal protective equipment. The messages delivered are simple but memorable and can make a difference in preventing injuries. Demos include head, hand and eye protection, proper lifting techniques for back safety, fall protection and impalement hazards such as exposed rebar.
4. Use All The Resources
It’s a common refrain that everyone wants to go home safely at the end of the day. Unfortunately, too many people begin their careers in safety because of a near miss, life-changing incident or tragedy. The culture around safety has improved greatly in the almost 30 years since the SCSA began but there is still work to be done.
Improving safety culture at your company and beyond requires continuous learning, open communication and vigilance. You can find many free resources by reaching out or visiting our website:
- Tool Box Talks and regular safety meetings reinforce positive safety habits. These talks cover seasonal topics, the importance of PPE, hazard recognition and control, safe work practices and job procedures, understanding legislation, supervisor responsibilities and more.
- SCSA Analytics is available to every member company. You can view WCB premiums, claims history, track employees’ training records and compare your company’s injury rates to peers. It also illustrates how, when and where workers get hurt so you can make informed decisions to improve safety practices.
- The Safety Culture Survey is open to members each fall and spring. It helps your company assess and improve your health and safety performance using a short questionnaire. The results are presented in a user-friendly dashboard that allows you to identify areas for improvement and recognize where your team is doing well.
- Mental wellness is a big part of workplace safety that should not be overlooked. Working in construction comes with stress that can put your team at a higher risk for mental health issues, suicide and substance use. Awareness and fostering an environment where it is safe to open up about concerns are good first steps.
Conclusion
If you are a member, this year is an opportunity for you to take advantage of all your safety association has to offer. With cost-effective training courses and many free resources, our team has the knowledge, proven practices and expertise to help your company ensure a safe and successful year ahead.
Plus, we’re friendly, helpful and as one member recently told us, “surprisingly fun.”
Visit scsaonline.ca for more information, course registration and resources.
