The sixth Safety Den, presented by SafeCare BC, is a Dragon’s Den-style competition, where contestants pitch their innovative ideas to reduce workplace injuries and improve the lives of those in care. Out of the seventeen health care organizations who submitted to Safety Den—a record number for the competition—it was Castlegar’s Castleview Care Centre that impressed the most.

The winning idea, called The Fears and Solutions initiative is about starting a dialogue. The care home’s staff and students are asked two questions: “what are you afraid of?” and “what are you going to about it?” By writing their answers to each of the questions on a poster, staff work together to come up with solutions to common fears. A proactive, welcoming environment is formed.

The competition’s judges—called Safety Dragons—loved the idea for how simple it is to implement.

“We are excited to be recognized by SafeCare BC, because it reinforces our practices and the fact that we work hard everyday to keep the people at Castleview safe, both the staff and those who live here,” says Shannon Kenning, administrator, Castleview Care Centre. “Our Fears and Solutions initiative is an approach that encourages honesty and accountability with our staff and when we are honest and vulnerable about the things that we’re fearful of we can work through it together and become a stronger team.”

Instead of a live audience of more than 200, this year’s pandemic-friendly event was a digital experience, where the finalists pitched their health and safety idea to our judges—the aforementioned Safety Dragons. Presented as a series of videos at the BC Care Providers Association’s virtual conference, Safety Den’s goal is to be as educational as it is entertaining.

“Workers in long-term care and home and community care have some of the highest workplace injury rates compared to all occupations in BC,” says Jen Lyle, CEO for SafeCare BC, the health and safety association for the 28,000 continuing care workers in BC. “Safety Den is an opportunity for the province’s healthcare workers to share ideas with each other, while having a bit of fun.”

Want to try the Fears and Solutions project at your organization? Download this template to get started!