If ever you needed proof that health and safety can be fun, look no further than the 2023 Safety Den. Held on May 29 at the BC Care Providers’ annual conference, the Dragons’ Den-inspired event captivated its audience as contestants pitched their ideas and innovations. Presentations included comedy skits, a musical performance, and even an appearance from a superhero—yes, you read that correctly.

The enthusiasm and passion coming from each of the show’s six finalists were evident to anyone in attendance. This year’s Safety Dragons—Terry Lake, Kerry Bowman, and Aly Devji—had a tough decision to make. Which of the healthcare finalists would be chosen to receive the top prize of $1,000, and which commercial finalist would be given the Safety Innovation of the Year award? Here are the results:

Healthcare Category

First Place – The Gardens at Qualicum Beach

A picture is worth 1,000 words—or in this case, $1,000! The Gardens at Qualicum Beach impressed the Safety Dragons with their innovation, The Gotcha Safety Awards, and took home the top prize. The idea is simple, staff use polaroid cameras to capture safe work practices in the act. This was demonstrated on stage by actual staff members of The Gardens, who showed how a little creativity goes a long way in making health and safety fun.

Second Place – Eden Gardens

Nanaimo-based Eden Gardens landed in second place—a familiar spot for the Safety Den veteran. Earning $750, their entry Passport to Safety Canadian Edition was noted as being their best submission yet from Safety Dragon Aly Devji.

Third Place – Sienna Senior Living

Rounding out the healthcare category is Sienna Senior Living. Their entry, Team Incident Debrief Exercise (TIDE) encourages care workers to learn from mistakes and make continuous improvements. Sienna’s impressive presentation earned the organization $500 to invest in its health and safety initiatives.

Commercial Category

Winner – HME Home Health

HME gave a “super” presentation. Dressed in a superhero outfit, HME’s staff used a comedic skit to demonstrate the effectiveness of their Signature Series Dove Mattress. They not only made the audience laugh but impressed the Safety Dragons enough to win the Safety Innovation of the Year Award.

Runner up – Music Care by Room 217

Music Care showcased the benefits of using music in care. In a first for Safety Den, the dragons were treated to a live music performance.

Runner up – Handicare

Handicare gave a demonstration of it new ceiling lift for bariatric residents by using Safety Dragon Aly Devji as an example.

For more on Safety Den, check out our video recap.