Description
Across sectors and economic conditions, workplace safety performance has generally improved when measured by traditional lagging indicators. This progress reflects the steady rollout of safety programs over the past several decades.
However, serious incidents and fatalities (SIFs) have not declined at the same rate. The number of workers who are killed or permanently disabled on job sites has remained stubbornly high. In Alberta, many companies are now implementing management processes designed specifically to reduce SIFs, supported by organizations that promote collaboration across companies and industry sectors.
How Collaboration Supports Prevention
The CIM and ESC are implementing information-sharing systems that allow companies to exchange lessons learned from serious injuries and fatalities. When used effectively, this information can help organizations develop or strengthen critical controls to prevent similar events elsewhere.
Mr. Rhind argues that this kind of collaboration can:
- help prevent avoidable harm and suffering
- accelerate learning across organizations and sectors
- improve the province's progress in reducing SIFs