What do a police officer, a carpenter, and a rancher have in common?

The question sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but the answer is anything but: they all have lower workplace injuries than continuing care workers. In fact, if you were to compare BC’s law enforcement sector with its continuing care sector, for example, you would see that the continuing care sector has an injury rate nearly double that of law enforcement.

This reality is surprising to many. But more importantly, it raises an important question: How can we fix this? How can we take better care of those who take care of others?

In launching our “Be Care Aware” campaign, we have two simple goals: spark the conversation around workplace safety and create a call-to-action to initiate change. Higher injury rates are not a forgone conclusion – they are not simply the “cost of doing business.” We know this because we can see measurable differences within and between organizations when they implement a robust safety program. We see differences when organizations effectively engage their workforce in the safety/quality process and when people within an organization become advocates for change. We see change when people are involved because people make change – not policies, rules, training, or regulations.

That concept is the centre of our “Be Care Aware” campaign. We are challenging you as a person working in the sector to create positive change. Regardless of their role within an organization, everyone has something to contribute. Being “Care Aware” means:

• You walk the talk. You model the behaviour you promote – whether using a mechanical lift to transfer a resident or reading the latest safety bulletin.
• You recognize excellence in others. You give positive feedback to others when you see them making smart, safe decisions.
• You are not a bystander. You provide gentle guidance when you see a coworker being unsafe and report unsafe working conditions when you come across them.
• You are always learning. You actively seek opportunities to improve and update your skill sets, whether attending a workshop, reading material online or researching a topic.

By joining the “Be Care Aware” challenge, you can help create the momentum needed to promote a culture of safety within the sector. I encourage you to spread the word and challenge those you work with to “Be Care Aware.” Change, after all, starts with you.