Seasons Greetings!

We started the year in a very different place than where we are closing, with many forces transitioning us through to the next phase of normal along the way. Connecting once again in-person in our work and personal lives has been an important highlight this year, one that we have previously taken for granted.

This past week, many of you joined us to look at the implications of the new amendments to the Workers Compensation Act for employers and workers. The silver lining amid the new questions is the spotlight this puts on workplace health and safety across the province. As these regulatory changes unfold into 2023, our team will be here to support you. 

In the December rush to finish last-minute projects and plans, sometimes we feel more holiday stress than joy, so it’s important to pause and take a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come.  

And we have much to celebrate in 2022. 

Recognizing outstanding leadership. 

In June, it was our honour to recognize Dinoflex CEO and health and safety champion Mark Bunz with the inaugural Soaring Eagle Leadership Award; and safety advocate Robin Ambrose, Epicure VP of People and Culture, with the 2022 Apex Award. A strong and healthy safety culture starts with committed leadership—and the dedication shown by these two leaders has been integral to the health and safety successes of their teams. Nominations are now open, and we look forward to recognizing more leaders with these prestigious awards in 2023.  

Building new connections to educate and serve. 

As always, our team has been actively reaching out to offer support to those most in need of health and safety training and services. And when WorkSafeBC conducted their latest independent survey of health and safety association members, we were pleased to see that many more B.C. manufacturers and food processors now know about the benefits of membership in the Alliance. 

We were also thrilled to celebrate and connect with so many of you at the Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala this past June—coming together to recognize excellence and achievements in health and safety in person for the first time since 2019! Throughout 2022, we were able to train a record number of workers with a mix of in-person and online education at our annual Make It Safe conference and in our year-round classes. This model has been vital in effectively supporting members across the province. 

We recognize the diverse nature and needs of our members’ teams, and to support a more inclusive safety culture, we began developing multilingual training—launching the first courses in Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese—with Punjabi to follow. As we move into 2023, we will continue this work in making health and safety training accessible for more B.C. workers. 

A skilled and dedicated team to support our members. 

But none of this would be possible without our team of dedicated advisors, trainers, and support staff. To address the sector’s high-risk needs, we are privileged to be able to provide you with a team of specialists in confined spaces, occupational hygiene, safeguarding, and ergonomics. And in response to the overwhelming increase and request for mental health support, we have recruited a mental health specialist and trainer to support our industry.

As we close the year, we wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season with your families and friends. Looking ahead, I hope you have a healthy, safe, and prosperous New Year.  

We look forward to continuing the conversation in 2023!

Lisa McGuire, CEO
Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC