Safe Communities Incentive Program Innovative Health

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Safe Communities Incentive Program Innovative
Health Safety Solutions for Small Business

• 11th International 5th National Conference on
  Safe Communities
• Rainy River District, ON
• May 7-9, 2002

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Presentation Objectives

• The Workplace Safety Insurance Board - Who are
  we? What do we do?
• Program fundamentals
• Evaluation results
• Lessons learned
• Strategic direction for 2002 and beyond
• Sound advice to others

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Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB)

• Crown corporation founded in 1915
• WSIB administers a no-fault workplace insurance
  plan for employers in Ontario
• Vision The elimination of all workplace injuries
  and illnesses in Ontario

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What is SCIP?

• Group financial incentive plan for small business
  in the province of Ontario developed in 1996
• Small business any employer who pays 90,000.00
  in premiums or less to WSIB
• Offered in communities designated as aSafe
  Community

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Safe Communities Model
Child Safety
Farm Safety
Health Units
Fire Safety
Special Needs
Service Clubs
Fire Fighters
Pain / Grief
Injuries
WSIB MOL SWAs
Financial Cost
Police
Workplace
Traffic Safety
Red Cross St. John
Recreational Safety
SCIP
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Program Purpose

• To prevent work related injuries/illness
• To promote strengthen the internal
  responsibility system for health safety
• Engage mentoring between large -small businesses
  in Safe Communities
• Move small business towards being more
  self-reliant in OHS matters

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What does SCIP provide?

• Safe workplace awareness training (12-16 hrs.
  duration)
• Health safety evaluation of a companys
  workplace
• Assistance in developing action plans for
  implementation
• Additional training specific to any group needs
  that have been identified

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Financial Incentive Mechanics 1997-2000

• The Safe Community group of small business
  premiums are pooled together
• WSIB forecasts the groups insurance costs for
  the year based on the past performance of the
  group
• The group receives 75 of any savings if better
  health safety performance is realized

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Community Profiles

• 21 safe communities are participating in SCIP for
  the year 2001
• Small Smiths Falls/Perth, Pop. 17,000
• Medium Belleville, Pop. 45,000
• Large Hamilton, Pop. 630,000
• gt 2,000 employers participating with 40
  employing less than 10 workers

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Rebates Years 1997- 2001

• 1997 (3/3 communities) 664,049.02
• 1998 (6/10 communities) 647,617.28
• 1999 (8/14 communities) 1,012,623.60
• 2000 (6/19 communities) 1,199,669.00
• 2001 (8/20 communities) N/A

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Program Evaluation Methodology 1997-1999

• Worker and employer surveys were conducted
• Independent qualitative case studies of
  employers/communities
• Injury frequency data analysis

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Data Analysis
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Evaluation Findings

• Program well received by small business - more
  participant accountability
• Increase in awareness and knowledge of OHS
  responsibilities was attained
• Some investment in physical changes
• Surveyed workers reported positive changes in
  their workplace

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Evaluation Findings Contd

• Improvements in injury frequency rates
• Resources to assist in administrating SCIP are a
  continuing concern for communities and other
  program partners
• SCIP is limited in its reach to attract new small
  business customers based on the present delivery
  model

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Lessons Learned 1997-2000

• Complicated incentive design led to decreasing
  refunds
• Participating firms support greater
  accountability within their groups
• Present high touch model is costly restricts
  growth potential
• Aiming for self reliance in small/medium firms
  may be unrealistic

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Lessons Learned 1997-2000 Contd

• Committed and continuing community leadership in
  safe communities is essential for sustainability
• New approaches are needed to reach small/medium
  businesses
• Continue to build on past successes and explore
  alternative delivery channels

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Small Business Lifecycle
Decline
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Strategic Review Process2001-2002

• Consultations were undertaken with community
  stakeholders Safe Communities Foundation
• Small businesses surveyed on alternative delivery
  channels
• Consultations with small business advocacy groups
  (CFIB, EAC)

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Strategic Review - Focus 2001-2002

• Computer-based OHS training as an alternative
  delivery channel
• Explore linkages with community colleges/third
  parties to deliver training
• Change/simplify incentive design
• Resource investment in new communities
• Explore new markets for small business

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Program Improvements 2002

• E-Learning initiative in development phase
• Community College partnership in place
• Incentive design change-fixed 5 refund
• 2 Year commitment to new communities

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Program Improvements 2002

• New health safety seminar approach for
  micro-businesses in the 1-3 year lifecycle
• Community run SCIP after 2 Years
• Achievement-based vs. Awareness-based health
  safety training

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Advice to Others

• Initiate continue open/honest dialogue with
  stakeholders to ensure program success.
• Small business is dynamic! Ensure your program
  has the capability to change in order to match
  the interests needs of your customer.
• Evaluate program regularly.