WorkSafeNB aims to establish New Brunswick as the safest place to work, beginning with its own operations. Laragh Dooley, vice-president of people and culture at WorkSafeNB, emphasizes that experiences within the organization influence their broader approach to workplace safety.
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The organization’s prevention teams assist employers in creating healthier, psychologically safer work environments. Additionally, the claims teams provide support for workers facing psychological injuries, helping them recover and safely return to work.
Dooley expresses pride in the team's daily efforts, noting the importance of learning and leading by example to integrate psychological health and safety into their definition of workplace safety. She highlights that when employees feel safe, valued, and supported, they perform better and foster a culture where ideas can be shared and mistakes can lead to learning and growth.
WorkSafeNB aspires to promote not only career development but also healthy lifestyles outside of work. Dooley stresses the need for flexible workplaces, empathetic leadership, clear expectations, meaningful work, and a culture of recognition and belonging.
The health, safety, and wellness team has played a crucial role in this initiative, focusing on listening and enhancing support systems. WorkSafeNB has made substantial investments in leadership development, mental health resources, and fostering an inclusive work environment.
Psychological safety, according to Dooley, involves establishing conditions that enable employees to thrive while maintaining their well-being. The goal is for workers to leave each day feeling as good as, or better than, when they arrived.
WorkSafeNB has realized that psychological health and safety cannot be treated as a one-time checklist or assigned to a single team. It is cultivated through everyday interactions, including how leaders support employees during challenges and how mistakes are managed.
The organization's ongoing efforts in psychological health and safety have been recognized with an OHS Gold Award. Dooley acknowledges the contributions of the health, safety, and wellness team, as well as other leaders and team members, stating that the commitment to psychological health and safety is a collective endeavor that thrives on communication, support, and a welcoming environment.