In 2010, WorkSafeNB met the targets set by its board of directors for safety, return-to-work, balance and staff satisfaction and engagement. The results were released today in the 2010 Annual Report.
Highlights of the 2010 report include the provincial accident frequency rate being well within the target of the previous five-year average, resulting in WorkSafeNB reporting one of the lowest accident frequency rates in the country. A significant decrease in the duration of lost-time claims was reported as well as a move toward changing the safety culture in New Brunswick through an overall decline in the percentage of New Brunswickers who view workplace injuries as being unpreventable.
The report also shows how WorkSafeNB continued to build upon positive operating results attained in 2009. Better than expected investment returns and in particular, lower than expected claims costs helped improve the funded position to 111.5%. And while the provisional average assessment rate increased in 2010, it still remained the lowest in Atlantic Canada.
Maintaining a fully funded position is great news for both employers and workers, said Sharon Tucker, chairperson of WorkSafeNB’s board of directors. “Full-funding contributes to rate stability by reducing the impact of year-to-year fluctuations, disasters and other unexpected events. And it means secured benefit payments for our injured workers,” she said.
“I congratulate the workers and employers of New Brunswick who helped us achieve these results by reducing injuries and lost-time claims and claim durations, which drive our costs. And I thank WorkSafeNB’s board of directors, its management and staff for their continued commitment and hard work toward our vision of healthy and safe workplaces in New Brunswick.”
The 2010 Annual Report is available for download at www.worksafenb.ca.