Matrix Solutions is WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s Safe Employer winner for 2016 for its Saskatchewan operations in Regina, Oxbow, Weyburn, Swift Current, Kindersley, Saskatoon, Lloydminster and surrounding areas.

Safety is part of everything Matrix employees do. Matrix Solutions, an environment and engineering consulting company, encourages employee involvement to develop the safety culture and to promote safety and injury prevention.

As the health and safety advisor, Davin Sander is no different. He’s been inspiring employees to be as passionate about safety as he is. Everyone at Matrix Solutions openly discusses health and safety, focusing on continuous improvement. “We involve everyone when we develop safety policies and procedures,” explains Davin. “We train our staff in safe work practices, focusing on what they need to know to do their jobs safely.”

Matrix Solutions trains all employees in the safe work practices and procedures required for them to do their jobs safely. If someone is unfamiliar with any aspect of an operation, identifies unsafe work practices and procedures, or does not have proper equipment to do the job safely, that individual is required to refuse the work until trained and the hazard eliminated. Employees are encouraged to provide feedback and improvements to the safe work policies and procedures they use.

Matrix Solutions strives to meet government and industry standards when maintaining their occupational health and safety program. At a minimum, all employees receive first-aid and WHMIS training, and, depending on their hazard exposure, additional comprehensive health and safety training. Occupational health and safety committee members receive OHC training. Davin reviews the OHC health and safety objectives regularly to ensure Matrix meets goals or exceeds them.

Matrix Solutions manages extensive emergency response procedures for their field workers, including operation of a 24-hour emergency response line. “Much of our staff works on the ground and out in the field. They work hard and they work long hours. We are all doing everything we can to make sure they come home safe.” Field hazards include but are not limited to equipment, materials, ergonomics, weather, fatigue, and communication.

Matrix employees take the safety message to heart and to home. They understand Matrix’s no data phone use when driving and the need to pull over or to wait until they reach their destination to take a call, to listen to a voicemail or to view information like email. Even Davin’s phone message states that he can’t answer the phone because he may be driving. “Everyone’s goal is to get home safe at the end of the work day,” says Davin. “We all accept that safety is part of everything that we do.”

Quotes:

“Everyone at Matrix Solutions is involved when we develop safety policies and procedures.”

“We train our staff in safe work practices, focusing on what they need to know to do their jobs safely and to get home at the end of their work day.”

“We accept that safety is part of everything we do.”