Press Releases

Minto celebrates safety rebate of $525,000

November 24th, 2004 – Today at a ceremony at the Nepean Sportsplex, Minto Developments Inc. will receive, on behalf of the Minto Safety Group, a rebate cheque for more than $525,000 from the Workers Safety Insurance Board (WSIB). This cheque is a financial incentive awarded to the Minto Safety Group for their participation in a province-wide WSIB accident prevention program called Safety Groups. The rebate will be shared among 48 local area contractors participating in the Minto Safety Group.

Back in 2002, Minto was the first "for-profit" organization in Ontario to join this innovative safety program whose purpose is to reduce the number of work-related accidents/illnesses and to curb accident costs. Heading into its third year, Minto is the official sponsor of a growing network of contractors and suppliers, all of which provide services to Minto work sites. The goal of the group is to have member firms implement a series of safety enhancements over a four to five-year period. This could include anything from fall protection to the operation of equipment and must be supported by written procedures, communication to workers, training, evaluation mechanisms and acknowledging those who contribute to the program.

Minto, along with other member companies, must develop and implement a minimum of five health and safety elements annually and add these to their existing programs. Minto's Health & Safety Manager, Paul-André Cyr, points out that some of the member companies in the group have limited resources to deal effectively with health and safety in their workplace. Joining forces and networking with other Minto Safety Group companies allows them to share resources, knowledge and experience that may not be available to them otherwise.

The rebate cheque of $526,375 will be shared among the member companies of the Minto Safety Group in proportion to the annual premiums each participant paid to the WSIB in 2003. The amount of the rebate, calculated by the WSIB, is based on each company's accident history and severity, as well as overall performance of the Safety Group. The Group is assessed as a whole based on achievement reports submitted by each member company and supported by audits completed by WSIB on no less than 10% of the participants. The higher the group score, the higher the rebate. Since the Minto Safety Group received an overall score of 99% in 2003, it will receive 99% of the potential group rebate.

The program has proven to be very successful as evidenced by the rebate that will be shared among the Minto Safety Group. More importantly, this has resulted in a noticeable shift in the attitudes and behaviours of workers and managers in the Minto Safety Group towards health and safety in general. In 2004, other major corporations like McDonalds Restaurants and Sobeys joined the WSIB program by forming their own safety groups.

Minto is proud to be part of this proactive program, which it considers to be a wise investment in the health, safety and well being of all its contractors and employees, their families, now and for generations to come.

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CONTACT:
Paul-André Cyr, Minto Developments Inc.
Telephone: 782.2457

Diane Hannah, Regional Coordinator, Workers Safety Insurance Board
Telephone: 342.3506

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
Nepean Sportsplex, Salon A - 12:45 p.m.