SASKATOON –WorkSafe Saskatchewan has recognized safety leaders from around the province at its 2023 Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards.
WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, presented these awards in Saskatoon as part of the WCB’s 25th anniversary of Compensation Institute.
Safe Worker Award
This year’s Safe Worker Award winner is Paige Freistadt, a program assistant at Harvest Community Inc. in Kronau, Sask. Hired during the pandemic, Freistadt is a role model for coworkers. She took initiative in making changes for employees’ physical well-being, including anti-fatigue mats for staff and air purifiers in spaces where social distancing was difficult. Freistadt also became a certified transferring, lifting and repositioning (TLR) instructor to train staff on the risks of taking shortcuts. She made recommendations for the company to purchase a transfer belt for those who need assistance walking to prevent shoulder and arm injuries. Freistadt educates others on lifting and moving properly.
Freistadt’s attitude has positively influenced the workplace safety culture, resulting in a workplace where more people know how to safely and confidently complete tasks. Teamwork has improved and everyone looks out for each other.
Safe Employer Award
The recipient of this year’s Safe Employer Award is power and phone line construction company Hundseth Line Construction Corp. (Hundseth). The Saskatoon-based company’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its workforce is reflected in growing number of 1,139 days with no lost-time injuries. To ensure incident prevention, all incidents, near misses and good catches are reported and investigated according to the severity or potential of an event. Through its thorough online reporting system, Hundseth employees can easily report hazards and corrective actions.
As an organization, Hundseth is committed to safety through its corporate commitment and the individual commitment of each employee. Their success is reflected in their recognition, as the company recently received the 2022 Canada Safest Employer Award.
To learn more about the WorkSafe Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards, including how to nominate someone for the 2024 awards, visit worksafesask.ca/resources/awards
