Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions about the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC
The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC is an industry-funded, not-for-profit, confidential health and safety association serving manufacturers and food processors throughout British Columbia.
Our role is to help reduce injury in the workplace through committed leadership and the implementation of a proven health and safety management system for our members.
The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BCÂ is not WorkSafeBC. We are the Certifying Partner for the food, beverage,and manufacturing industries in BC. The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BCÂ has an agreement with WorkSafeBC to provide an occupational health and safety association to promote safe work practices in workplaces in BC and to administer the OSSE (COR) recognition program for companies in our assigned classification units (CUs) as well as other members.
Working with industry leaders such as CEOs, senior executives and safety managers, the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC helps increase the value of an organization by optimizing the value of its most valuable assets – its people.
Membership Related Questions
With close to 3000 BC Members, approximately 30% of all British Columbia manufacturers (including almost all food processors) are already Members of the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC.
One path to membership is when there is formal, written agreement for financial support from a majority of companies within a specific manufacturing industry sector, also known as a Classification Unit (CU). To find out if your company and Classification Unit are already on the Member list, simply click here; or call us at: (604) 795.9595.
All companies within majority-supporting CUs are eligible to receive the Alliance’s OHS services. However, if your Classification Unit has not yet granted majority support to the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC, but you’d still like to belong to the Manufacturing Safety Alliance to receive professional OHS programs and services, please read on to learn how to become an Independent Member!
No. Some of our tools and resources are available to everyone for free. We charge nominal fees for training.
We offer four classes of membership:
- Businesses included in the WorkSafeBC classification units (CUs) we serve
- Manufacturers engaged directly or indirectly in the manufacturing of products in BC outside the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BCÂ CUs
- Industry suppliers, warehousing and other related businesses that want to improve their safety culture by lowering their injury rates and their annual WorkSafeBC insurance premiums.
- Associations, consultants, or service providers interested in connecting with BC manufacturers through networking events and marketing opportunities
Our Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 members pay a fee based on 9 cents per $100 in assessable payroll for a renewable annual membership. Class 4 members pay a fixed rate annual membership fee of $399 which is independent of your payroll size.
To become a member of the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC please call us at 604.795.9595 or email by clicking here. We will be glad to help.
OSSE Related Questions
The Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence (OSSE) is BC’s solution for manufacturers seeking a comprehensive health and safety management system. Using a best practices approach, in cooperation with WorkSafeBC, the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC is proud to offer significant financial rewards for successful completion of the OSSE Journey. The program promotes equally the concept of managing health and safety with other components necessary for a successful business such as profitability and productivity.
- Reduced injury rates
- Reduced premiums
- Reduced absenteeism
- Higher productivity
- Higher profits
- Demonstrate corporate responsibility
- Demonstrate community stewardship
- Be an employer of choice
Being entitled to use the OSSE seal, as only OSSE certified companies can, in all of your marketing and promotional materials will add an important message about your brand for your customers.
To discover your potential savings you can use our online Financial Return on Investment Calculator by simply clicking here.
OSSE is COR for the manufacturing and food processing industries.
The cost of the external audit, which will confer OSSE certification status, depends on the size of the company being audited. Due to sampling requirements, the larger the company, the more employees or sites must be interviewed and observed.
The length of time required for OSSE certification depends upon the state of your existing safety management system. Many employers are currently meeting all the OSSE requirements, while others may require up to 18 months to successfully implement the elements of the program.
The OSSE certification is valid for three years from the date of certification, provided the employer performs internal maintenance audits in the second and third years and complies with the terms and conditions of the OSSE Program. An external audit is required in year four to complete the re-certification audit.
You can use our online Financial Return on Investment Calculator to get an estimate of the potential rebates from which you could benefit by adopting OSSE as your health and safety management system. To discover your potential savings you can use our online Financial Return on Investment Calculator by simply clicking here.
Rebate cheques are issued by WorkSafeBC each year to employers who are eligible. To be eligible means that employers must be OSSE certified by a certifying partner and be “in good standing with WorkSafeBC”. Rebate cheques are normally issued towards the middle of the calendar year. If your base line audit (original OSSE certifying audit) is completed before the end of the calendar year and it passes, the corresponding rebate cheque will be made in the next calendar year.
Simply give us a call at 604.795.9595 or email us at [email protected] and we will be glad to help you start your OSSE Journey.
The first step in your OSSE Journey is an assessment of the gaps in your program when compared to the criteria for a comprehensive safety management system. This is called GAP Analysis. You need to understand what your program’s strengths and weaknesses are, so that you can plug the gaps and take what is successful to a higher level.
To learn more please contact us at [email protected], or call us at 604.795.9595.
Training Related Questions
The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BCÂ offers health and safety training to our members and others through a variety of convenient platforms. Traditional classroom training is available at regularly scheduled times and locations throughout the year. Our selection of online training options is expanding all the time and we also offer the option, at your convenience, of delivering our courses at your place of business through our specialized Made-2-Measure program. In keeping with the latest trends in learning, our delivery is moving towards a blended approach to better cater to your needs.
For a full list of available courses please click here.
For a list of courses available through our Online Learning Centre please click here.
The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC’s training courses compare to industry standards. For a full breakdown simply call us at 604.795.9595 or email us at [email protected] and we will be glad to help.
Simply call us at 604.795.9595 or email us at [email protected] and we will be glad to help.
No, our training is available to everyone.
- Classroom (On Hold due to COVID-19 Pandemic)
- Online
- Virtual
Get in Touch
The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC attends many conferences, conducts a number of Peer-to-Peer meetings and Townhall sessions through the province every year. In addition we host two major conferences: the Annual Make it Safe Manufacturers Safety Conference in October and the BC Safety Charter Annual Roundtable in April.
To find out more please give us a call at 604.795.9595 or email us at [email protected] and we will be glad to help.
If we haven’t been able to answer your question here please simply call us at 604.795.9595 or email us at [email protected] and we will be glad to help you with your health and safety concerns.