BY PATTY MINTZ

NovaNewsNow.com

For Chris Brown, general manager of David Brown United Limited, concern for the safety of his employees and others has paid off.

Based in Cambridge, the trucking company ships goods around the province and throughout Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario.

Recently, the company received a Certificate of Recognition (COR) by Jacques Whitford – an environmental and safety consulting company based in Halifax – in partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB) for its commitment and adherence to the highest safety standards.

“I knew safety should be a priority in this line of work,” Brown says. “You try to work with the best safety regulations you can find.”

In Chris’s case, the search for the best began after the firm, which was founded 50 years ago by his grandfather, experienced several workplace injuries in 2003 and 2004. After taking a look at his company’s safety system and how it performed, he attended a Nova Scotia Trucking Safety Association safety seminar in 2005.

It was there he learned about the COR program, which provides employers with a framework to develop, implement and evaluate their current and long-term health and safety systems. COR has 22 criteria of evaluation including training, worker and management participation, Occupational Health and Safety standards and emergency preparedness.

“I decided it would be a valuable tool for evaluating and upgrading our current safety system,” says Brown.

Inspection and recommendatons

Brown says working with Jacques Whitford through the audit process proved to be a valuable resource in his quest for a safer workplace.

“They showed us things we weren’t doing that we should be doing” and vice-versa, he said. “They made an inspection and recommendations designed for the trucking industry. They really helped us out. It was a nice fit for us. They really understood our business.”

Once all requirements had been met, the WCB signed the certificate recognizing the firm’s commitment to the highest safety standards. As a result, David Brown United will see a reduction in WCB rates for the coming year.

“The Certificate of Recognition Standards program is an essential part of the WCB’s overall prevention mandate,” says John Banks, WCB manager of prevention services. “Employers like Dave Brown United that embrace the process are great examples of Nova Scotia’s emerging workplace safety culture.”

Furthermore, Brown’s effort in pursuing the COR certification drew the attention of the Nova Scotia Trucking Safety Association, which named Brown a member of its board of directors.

But Brown is adamant about the role front-line employees play in the process. “The relationship between all our departments and employees is one of support. If anyone recognizes any potential safety hazard they work together to solve the issue quickly.”

Brown says it’s an ongoing mindset. “We’ve made changes and we’re still making changes.”

Garry Alderdice, the safety auditor who works on the COR program with Dave Brown United on behalf of Jacques Whitford, sees evidence of the program’s positive impact.

“They were very receptive to change and improvements in their safety system. After my second audit, I saw they had improved immensely,” including the company’s highway safety program.

As for Brown, who says three generations have been involved in the business, creating a safer business has been far from painful.

“The process of getting the certification was a smooth and cooperative one. There was no major expense; no major new equipment was needed. I’d certainly recommend it to any company.”