By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
The RM of Corman Park and the Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) have entered into a partnership for the purpose of strengthening workplace safety and supporting employee well-being, particularly as it pertains to municipal employees who are returning to work after an injury.
The new partnership was announced via a news release posted to the RM of Corman Park’s website on January 7.
The release states that through close collaboration with the WCB, the RM will implement programs based on evidence-based strategies to manage return-to-work processes, deliver advanced safety training and introduce meaningful, safe alternatives for employees who require workplace accommodation.
“The goal of this partnership is to ensure every employee’s safety and to foster an environment where individuals are supported throughout their recovery and return to work,” said James Burkell, Manager of Human Resources for Corman Park.
“By working with the WCB, the RM will be better positioned to address risks confidently, compassionately and responsibly while providing practical solutions for employees transitioning back to work following injury.”
Key benefits of the partnership include access to WCB-led training and safety assessments tailored to municipal operations; improved frameworks for managing accommodation and return-to-work plans; collaborative approaches for identifying and addressing safety risks; and greater support for supervisors and managers in decision-making processes.
The release also states that the partnership is supported by the expertise of Ryan Fitzpatrick, manager of Fitzpatrick Occupational Therapy, whose comprehensive assessments and reviews of RM operations have helped align the RM’s day-to-day functions with the WCB’s requirements.
In an interview on Jan. 15, CWB Vice President of Prevention and Employer Services Kevin Mooney said the partnership with Corman Park came about following a discussion at last year’s Compensation Institute, an annual networking and educational event for employers and workers that is aimed at improving safety culture.
Incidentally, this conversation came right on the heels of a presentation on return-to-work strategies, which are beginning to shift away from sending workers home for long periods of time before returning to work.
“There’s a lot of emerging research showing that it’s healthier to take place in some form of modified duties and stay connected to the workplace rather than staying at home and trying to fully recover before going back to work,” Mooney said.
In addition to improving their return-to-work program, the RM was also interested in enhancing their injury prevention efforts.
He indicated that this kind of partnership is not uncommon and is part of the work being done through the WCB’s 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy, which was first launched in 2019.
Some examples include working with groups of construction companies to reduce falls from ladders and partnering with larger municpalities to reduce violence on public transit.
The length of this partnership isn’t defined, though Mooney agreed with the suggestion that it could last for a year or two.