It's a good time to be safe.
Businesses from around Humboldt congregated together at the Humboldt Uniplex on September 29 to sign Saskatchewan's Health and Safety Leadership Charter.
The charter was brought to Humboldt by the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC).
"This is a very special event for our community and on behalf of city council, administration and staff and all the citizens of Humboldt, I'm very pleased to offer our thanks to the organizers and congratulations for this historic event in our community," said Mayor Malcolm Eaton.
The charter was signed by over 20 businesses in Humboldt. Special guests from the Worker's Compensation Board (WCB), Work Safe Saskatchewan, SAFE Saskatchewan and Safe Communities were present at the historic event.
"We are here today to promote the safety charter that many of you will be signing today," said David Eberle, Chairperson of the Workers Compensation Board (WCB).
By signing the charter, businesses are agreeing to be a leader in not only workplace safety, but a leader in community safety.
"Signing the charter is not just your commitment to improving your statistics within your workplace, it is also doing what you can, as a community and business leader," said Peter Federko, CEO of WCB, representing Work Safe Saskatchewan and president of SAFE Saskatchewan.
The charter was first brought out in June this year, when over 100 businesses signed it. Four companies that do business in Humboldt attended the June event: Access Communications, Schulte Industries, Conexus and Big Sky Farms.
Lori Rowat, personnel recruiting manager for Big Sky Farms, was at the Humboldt signing.
"We were very proud and excited to be part of the historic signing of the leadership charter in Regina on June 10, as we do fully support the continuous improvement of health and safety in all of our workplaces across Saskatchewan and Manitoba," said Rowat.
Since June, Big Sky has already seen improvements in workplace safety.
"Our goal is to send every single person home safe every single day," said Rowat.
Kelvin Fisher of the Saskatoon Health District (SHD) was proud to be part of the Humboldt charter signing.
Although the SHD just signed the charter on September 29, they still put the focus on safety this past year.
"Humboldt District Hospital, this past year, I'm proud to advise, has 11 per cent merit award in recognition of their reduction in worker compensation claims," said Fisher. "I believe this is a great example of our enhanced focus on safety."
The new Humboldt District Health Complex will have plenty of new safety features to keep workers safe, Fisher added.
The charter was also signed by Eaton on behalf of the city.
Eaton worked as a safety officer at a potash mine in Allan after retiring as a school principal.
"I learned how important this initiative is to workers, to communities and to families," said Eaton.
"I am so pleased that we are bringing forth this initiative to our community and create some momentum, to learn some things from this and to develop our cultural safety in our community."
Humboldt has already proven to be one of the safest communities in Saskatchewan, said Jan Berger of Humboldt and District Safe Communities.
In the past two years, Humboldt has received 100 per cent on its Safe Communities Safety Report.
In fact, the province as a whole has been improving when it comes to safety.
"We're moving in the right direction. We're moving towards zero," said Eberle.
Since June, when the charter was created, about 200 businesses have signed it. Only 200 people have signed the Ontario Conference Board's charter in 11 years.
"Hats off to the community leaders and business leaders for showing that not only do the Riders rock, but we can raise the most money per capita through Telemiracle and we can kick the crap out of anybody in respect to workplace and community safety," said Federko.
