CloseSCRD receives Provincial Safety Improvement Award
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has been recognized with the 2026 Safety Improvement Award from the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA), acknowledging the organization’s ongoing commitment to workplace health and safety and significant reductions in workplace injuries.
The annual award recognizes local governments that demonstrate exceptional improvement in workplace safety by reducing their WorkSafeBC experience rating, a measure of workplace injury claims and associated costs. To qualify, organizations must reduce their experience rating by at least 15 percentage points over four years while maintaining a current rating of no greater than +20%.
Pictured is the SCRD’s Human Resources team with Mike Roberts, CEO of the BC Municipal Safety Association (right)
The SCRD exceeded these requirements, reducing its experience rating from 14.9% in 2022 to 2% in 2025. Current 2026 performance indicates the trend is continuing, with the experience rating now at -2.2%, reflecting continued reductions in workplace injuries and lower WorkSafeBC premium costs.
“This recognition reflects years of dedication and collaboration across the organization,” says Gerry Parker, SCRD Senior Manager, Human Resources. “Every employee, supervisor, manager and member of our Joint Health and Safety Committees has played an important role in strengthening our culture of safety. Together, we have reduced workplace injuries and created a safer, healthier workplace for our staff.”
The foundation for this achievement began in 2021 when the SCRD Board approved the creation of a full-time Health and Safety Coordinator position within the Human Resources Department. The dedicated position allowed the organization to expand its focus on workplace safety through enhanced training, inspections, incident investigations, and continuous improvements to health and safety practices.
Building on this work, the SCRD pursued the BC Municipal Safety Association’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program in 2024. Following a comprehensive external audit, the SCRD achieved COR certification in November 2024, demonstrating that effective health and safety systems are embedded throughout the organization.
In addition to reducing workplace injuries, achieving COR certification has generated annual WorkSafeBC premium savings of more than $80,000, beginning in 2025.
The SCRD congratulates everyone who contributed to this achievement and remains committed to continually improving workplace health and safety throughout the organization.