The city’s water treatment plant has been re-certified for the Washington State Safety Through Achieving Recognition Together (START) Program. The program recognizes workplaces with exemplary safety records that have shown a commitment to health and safety excellence in the workplace. The water treatment plant was the first public agency to obtain this certification.
The City also celebrates its graduation from the Blueprint for Safety program sponsored by L&I’s northern Region 1. The City is the first graduate of 14 employer members who support continuous improvement and best practices in accident prevention.
Employer CEOs personally commit time and resources to grow great supervisors, develop formal annual safety goals and participate in a number of training sessions customized for their individual company needs.
Since joining Blueprint for Safety in 2009, the City has earned a 42 percent reduction in injury claims and a 39 percent reduction in workers’ compensation rates. Employers participating in START must have an injury rate below their industry average for at least one year and allow L&I safety and health experts to visit the work site and review workplace hazards, examine safety and health programs and human resource policies, as well as interview workers.
The START certification is the highest safety honor for an employer of a site with under 50 employees and 250 total employees.