The City of Abbotsford is looking to hire a health and safety co-ordinator with an eye on reducing WorkSafeBC premiums.
High claim rates in 2014 and years before have left the city paying a worksafe surcharge of 60.9 per cent above the base level.
The city had 47 WorkSafe claims in 2014, but those annual numbers have been halved in the last two years. To keep costs associated with claims down, the city is looking at hiring a new staff member, at a cost of $85,000, to focus on worker safety and well-being.
The position is subject to council approval.
“Our safety record has been less than stellar, that’s not news to anyone around this table,” Mayor Henry Braun said. “We’re making good improvement and I think that’s partly why you see what you see here.”
