The Safe Communities Incentive Program will live for a third year in Rainy River District after 26 new members signed up by the Jan. 31 deadline.
“We did it!” SCIP co-ordinator Jeannette Cawston enthused yesterday morning.
“The combined efforts of the small businesses and the Rainy River Future Development Corp. have once again reached its goal!” she said.
The program, which helps employers make their workplace safer and then rewarding them for it through lower WSIB costs, needs at least 25 new members each year to keep going.
But while they made it, albeit barely, Cawston still hoped more businesses would have signed up.
“I really wish we could have more . . . to have employers see how SCIP can affect the workplace, their bottom line, and their employees,” she remarked.
On the other hand, six of the 18 SCIP programs across Ontario did not get enough new members to carry on so the one here–now touting 167 members–has reason to feel good.
“It’s quite an accomplishment,” Cawston said. “We already have 85 percent of the small businesses [fewer than 20 employees] but there’s no reason we couldn’t see everyone be a member.”
Meanwhile, knowing the pilot program will continue for another year, Cawston is urging SCIP members from the previous two years to renew their memberships before the Feb. 18 deadline.
“It would show your commitment to the program,” she stressed.
And those that did not jump aboard can still benefit from SCIP training. With transportation of dangerous goods and chainsaw safety topping the slate of courses being held at Confederation College here this month, non-SCIP members can get their employees certified by contacting Cawston at 274-3276 or 1-800-465-8502.
“We don’t turn anyone away. It’s available to anyone in the community. There is a cost but we keep the prices quite low,” she noted.
“If an employer did this through an individual consultant, the cost would be higher,” she added.