June 2, 2022 – Victoria, B.C. Vancouver Island Brewing Inc. is the latest Victoria-region company recognized with the Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence. Yesterday, we celebrated this remarkable achievement at a special presentation at their Taproom in downtown Victoria.

“We couldn’t be prouder to be the first craft brewery on Vancouver Island to receive this certification and only the fourth brewery in B.C.” said David Nicholls, GM, Vancouver Island Brewing.

OSSE is the workplace health and safety Certificate of Recognition (COR) standard of safety excellence for B.C. manufacturers. OSSE verifies that a company’s health and safety program has reached a provincial standard. The program supports companies in building successful safety and health systems that reduce workplace accidents, injuries, illness, and related human and financial costs.

“Achieving OSSE during the exceptional challenges we faced in 2021 is something they should be incredibly proud of,” said Wayne Arondus, COO of the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC – the WorkSafeBC certifying partner for COR in manufacturing. “In taking on the work investment involved in OSSE, Vancouver Island Brewing demonstrates their commitment to keeping their employees safe in the workplace.”

The benefits of OSSE certification in worker health and safety and business sustainability are substantial. Dr. Sean Tucker, a researcher from the Centre of Management Development at the University of Regina, compared the average injury rates of manufacturing companies before and after OSSE certification. Preliminary results reveal nearly a 50 percent reduction in time-loss injuries in OSSE-certified companies from three years before certification to three years after.

Getting OSSE-certified improves a company’s safety culture, but it can also improve the overall culture of the business. In addition, certified companies are eligible for financial benefits, such as a 10 percent annual rebate on WorkSafeBC premiums.

“We prioritize the health and safety of our team as a core value and through a strong safety culture. We’ve been on a journey to accomplish our OSSE Certification over the past 4 years,” notes Tierra Madani, Senior Manager, People & Organizational Development at Vancouver Island Brewing.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating this achievement alongside Vancouver Island Brewing today,” adds Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC CEO Lisa McGuire. “Their participation in the OSSE program shows that they are taking the necessary steps to create a safe, sustainable workplace that will protect their employees from injury and illness on the job.”

About Vancouver Island Brewing

Vancouver Island Brewing is a group of passionate, inspired people who are proud to drive innovation in an industry that they helped pioneer in British Columbia. They began in 1984 as Island Pacific Brewing – which serviced the pubs on Vancouver Island with its unique beers. After outgrowing its home in central Saanich in the mid-90s, the brewery moved to its current location on Government street 1996 and changed its name to Vancouver Island Brewery. Their facility was the first production brewery in downtown Victoria since 1982.

About the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC

The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC (www.safetyalliancebc.ca) is the not-for-profit health and safety association for British Columbia manufacturers and food processors and WorkSafeBC Certifying Partner for the Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence (the Certificate of Recognition, or COR, program for the manufacturing sector). The Alliance is committed to transforming organizations’ health and safety culture through effective OHS management systems, training, and certification.