December 15, 2012
Safety Group reaps benefit of WSIB rebate
Front row, from left, John Aird, WSPS manager of industry relations, Michelle Wessel, Barb Kerr, Noreen Haunton, David Nemeth, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Ryan Harpe, Jessica Odorjan and Amber Way. In back from left, Tony DiGiovanni, Lawrence Medas, Sally Harvey, Jack VandeRee CLT, Elizabeth Mills, Leon Denbok, Harry DeVries, Ken Jorgenson, Sue Hart, Samantha Trimboli, Nicole Taylor, Mike Watson, Matt Humphrey, Gerwin Bouman, Gerry Gale and Steve Hussul.
Members of LO Safety Group had lots to celebrate on Nov. 23.

First it was the Group’s 10th anniversary, and then the members heard that they would be sharing nearly $60,000 of group rebate cheque from WSIB. A group rebate is shared according to each company’s WSIB contributions.

The 2011 – ’12 Safety Group Program participants achieved a score of 3.8 out of 4. On hand to congratulate the group and take part in the celebration was guest speaker Elizabeth Mills, president and ceo of Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS).

“Ten years is a long time to be involved in a Safety Group. You should be proud of yourselves,” said Mills. She went on to praise the work of Landscape Ontario in the Safety Group process. “You people get it,” she said, referring to the benefits of belonging to a Safety Group.

The WSPS president continued with a list of ten reasons why a business should belong to a Safety Group. The number one reason is that this group has had two consecutive years of reducing lost time through injury. “That leads us to the number two reason and that is creating a healthier and safer workplace.”

Other reasons listed included standing out from others in the industry, planting the seeds of change, helping to design Ontario’s health and safety system, growing strong relationships among other members of the group, creating a close working relationship with the WSPS. “Keep building on your success,” said Mills.

Lawrence Medas, WSIB Safety Groups coordinator, told the gathering that it was amazing to see the positive results from Landscape Ontario and WSPS. “We at WSIB appreciate the the partnership with Landscape Ontario,” said Medas. “No doubt the safety group is way ahead of the pack in terms of the new introductions that have come and are coming from WSIB.”

Medas presented the symbolic cheque to Landscape Ontario, manager of education and labour development Sally Harvey CLT, CLP.

Also on hand at the meeting was LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni, who stated, “This group is inspiring.”

Companies taking part in the 2010 Safety Group include Appleby Landscape, Boot's Landscaping and Maintenance, Christine's Touch Gardening, Courtland Gardens and Landscape Centre, DenBok Landscaping, Elm Landscaping, Fleischauer Brothers Landscaping, Forestell Designed Landscapes, Hermanns Contracting, Husky Landscaping Services, Kelly's Tree Care, Lets Landscape Together, Markham Property Services, Municipal Maintenance, Oriole Landscaping, Parklane Nurseries, Stam Nurseries, Somerville Nurseries, The Beach Gardener, V Kraus Nurseries, Woodhill Greenhouses and Wright Landscape Services.

















In photo, front row, from left, John Aird, WSPS manager of industry relations, Michelle Wessel, Barb Kerr, Noreen Haunton, David Nemeth, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Ryan Harpe, Jessica Odorjan and Amber Way. In back from left, Tony DiGiovanni, Lawrence Medas, Sally Harvey, Jack VandeRee CLT, Elizabeth Mills, Leon Denbok, Harry DeVries, Ken Jorgenson, Sue Hart, Samantha Trimboli, Nicole Taylor, Mike Watson, Matt Humphrey, Gerwin Bouman, Gerry Gale and Steve Hussul.

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