WSIB doubles HSEP rebates for small businesses
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has announced a special bonus for those small businesses enrolled in its Health and Safety Excellence program.
Companies with fewer than 99 employees will be eligible to earn double the rebates for each topic they complete in the program. The board announced the new pandemic bonus rebate program on June 6.
“We know Ontario businesses work to have the safest workplaces anywhere, but many smaller businesses are still recovering from the pandemic,” said WSIB President and CEO Jeffery Lang. “We are stepping up with added incentives to help get more businesses investing in health and safety right now.”
The new pandemic bonus for smaller businesses will double the rebate for topics completed in 2022, retroactively double rebates for topics completed since March 2020 for eligible businesses who enroll in new topics this year, and pay an additional $1,000 toward the development of action plans in 2022.
When the Health and Safety Excellence program launched in November 2019, there was a cap on rebates with small businesses able to earn up to 75% of their premium back. Now that cap is also being removed.
“We are firmly planting our stake in the ground to say we’re serious about helping small business to develop and implement strong health and safety programs in Ontario,” said Rod Cook, Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services at the WSIB.
Lang announced the program bonus during a visit to the offices of Kitchener-Waterloo-based general contractors SG Cunningham. The company is a Health and Safety Excellence program member, and won the WSIB’s Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Awards in 2020
“The Health and Safety Excellence program has helped us build out our own program while earning premium rebates,” said Beverley Cunningham, VP Health and Safety and Communications at SG Cunningham. “I think this added incentive will get more businesses like ours into the program which should ultimately mean fewer injuries. That’s the goal.”
The WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program connects Ontario businesses with approved providers in their industry or community who help design a plan based on 36 available health and safety topics. For each topic completed and validated, businesses can earn a rebate on their WSIB premiums.
Since 2020, over $21 million in rebates have been issued to Ontario businesses.
Featured image: (left to right) Georgia Cunningham President & CEO; Jeffery Lang, WSIB President and CEO; Beverley Cunningham, VP, Health & Safety and Communications; John Deans VP, Construction & Business Development. Image courtesy WSIB