"The way it works is an administrator loads the elements of a workplace or food safety program into the system," says Brian Nodwell, creator of the program and CEO of SafetySync. "The administrator then assigns these elements to the various positions in the company. The employee is then prompted to take training lessons, challenge quizzes, read policies, view video procedures, submit completed records, and so on. Meanwhile, the system tracks their progress all the way to full compliance."
Nodwell says the system, sponsored by the Alberta Government and Growing Forward 2, can help reduce costs of workplace accidents and injuries and thereby improve profitability and competitiveness. With so much positive feedback there is no doubt that the new Online Food Safety and Workplace Health and Safety Management System is already helping food processors across Alberta bring in a new era of workplace safety.
Joan Fiddler, human resources manager at Lassonde Industries - a company that develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of fruit and vegetable juices and drinks, and specialty food products, has only just started to implement the system but is already seeing huge potential.
Fiddler also loves the fact that she can personalize the system by position in the plant or by department and focus on the individual needs of an employee. They can also have contractors sign in at their site before coming to the processing plant, to read their company policies and health and safety procedures and let them know before hand what is expected of them.
Fiddler says this new system is not comparable to any other program she has used in the past. Since it is all-inclusive and versatile, the system has replaced their very cumbersome and expensive, continuously out-dated videos, PowerPoint presentations and a whole lot of paper.
These sentiments are echoed by Joy Wico who is the quality assurance manager at Bassano Growers Ltd. in Calgary, a company that provides fresh, wholesome prepared fruits to customers in Alberta and Calgary. The Online Food Safety and Workplace Health and Safety Management System has been a tremendous help to her.
Wico has observed an increased awareness and compliance of Bassano's employees in both food safety and workplace health and safety.
Diana Genchev is the quality assurance supervisor at the Lucerne Bread Plant (a division of Safeway) in Calgary. They have only been using the system for about a month but they have already gotten very positive feedback from both employees and staff.
Genchev says the program is particularly helpful for people with hearing or language issues. The videos are very interactive and have a lot of images which are perfect for people with hearing loss or English as their second language.