INNISFAIL - The town has moved to solidify its protective services force.
And for the first time ever Innisfail will have a full-time health and safety coordinator. The town will also return to having two full-time community police officers (CPO), following a period of staff changes.
Council was told at its April 9 regular meeting the move to a full-time health and safety coordinator position was earmarked in the 2018 salary budget for the town. The salary cost is between $67,000 and $76,000.
A report presented to council said the current health and safety coordinator position was being split with community policing duties and was not meeting "service level expectations" of both positions and reducing the success of both programs.
Council was told through the report prepared by Gary Leith, the town's fire chief and head of the town's fire and protective services department, that a full-time health and safety coordinator will allow the town to continue building a successful program that would reduce workplace incidents and injuries.
"We want to make sure we have a consistent and thorough health and safety program for the staff," said Todd Becker, the town's chief administrative officer. "There has been more emphasis on industrial health and safety programs, as well as increased legislation on meeting health and safety requirements in the workplace."
Becker said the town will soon be advertising to fill one CPO position, and for the new health and safety coordinator.
Some of the duties for a new full-time health and safety coordinator include ensuring the program meets Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association requirements and associated legislation, acting as an advisory member of the Health and Safety Committee, ensuring hazard assessments and workplace inspections are completed and reviewed, assisting departments in planning formal inspections and required followup actions to eliminate unsatisfactory conditions, supporting human resources on WCB claims and developing and maintaining the annual health and safety budget.
