Thank you for registering for the SAFE Companies program to become a SAFE Certified Company. It's an important first step towards improving your company's safety performance, and safety performance industry-wide.
Taking responsibility...that is what SAFE Companies is all about. Our current unacceptable safety performance is an issue that the forest sector must solve. SAFE Companies certification is designed to ensure that every company, large and small, meets or exceeds industry safety requirements with fully functioning safety programs and systems.
You are receiving this Safety Toolkit as part of your registration. The Toolkit will assist you to take charge and control of your safety programs and activities. For companies without a structured safety program, or those who are uncertain if their program meets industry safety standards, the Safety Toolkit can help. It is a step by step process designed to help build a new program or review an existing one.
As a Small Company in the SAFE Companies program, you are also required to send a representative to the Small Employer OHS Training Course. The 2-day course is designed to assist small employers in developing and maintaining an effective Health & Safety Program for their workplaces and will cover topics including:
As a large company, your initial certification audit needs to be completed by a certified External Auditor. A list of Certified External Auditors can be viewed at Certified External Auditors
Additionally, for small employers that feel they need alittle extra help finalizing their safety program, Safety Advocates are available. Safety Advocates are people with many years experience in the forest sector in BC. They all have on-the-ground experience developing, implementing or managing health and safety programs for forest companies. They are trained by the BC Forest Safety Council to review small forest companies' health and safety practices, and provide advice to-help them work towards a better safety program.
To learn more about Safety Advocates and sign up for assistance, please visit Safety advocates and assistance
Once you are confident that you have the required safety programs and procedures in place, it will be time to complete your certification audit. Your company's first certification audit must be submitted within 180 days of registration for the SAFE Companies program. If you have any questions about the Toolkit or the certification process, please give us a call at 1-888-632-0211.
Again, thank you for your commitment to worker safety.
Yours Sincerely,
Tanner Elton
For the BC Forest Safety Council