A Culture of Care: Safety Action Plan

The University of Alberta's three-year safety action plan will embed health and safety as a core value within the university community.

A Culture of Care (PDF)
Une culture de soins (PDF)

Goal

To empower U of A employees to own their safety performance and that of others so everyone can go home safely each day.

Employees have every right to expect they will return to their families healthy and safe at the end of their day. The same holds true for members of the public who access university services. An embedded safety culture means elevating health and safety to a core value within the U of A – it means a university commitment to the physical, psychological and cultural safety and well-being of the university community.

Creating a safe workplace environment across our One University requires specific attention to several factors. Safety involves not only the physical environment, but also cultural and psychological well-being, which are equally critical aspects of feeling safe in the workplace.

Physical + Cultural + Psychological

Initiatives in action

The following initiatives are underway to help us create a safe workplace across our One University. This list is updated as initiatives are launched. Quarterly updates  are provided to both executive leadership and the board audit and risk committee as part of the accountability structure for the action plan.

Buy-in and Organizational Alignment

Employee Empowerment

  • Enhance employee understanding of rights, roles, responsibilities and blame free approach through updated Working Safely eLearning.

Recognition and Rewards

How we got here

The university has a comprehensive Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS) and a stated commitment  from the president confirming that safe behaviour is the shared responsibility of all University of Alberta faculty, staff, students and visitors.

In response to an increase in reportable, preventable and serious near-miss incidents in 2021-22 and to acknowledge gaps in our safety culture, the university established a Safety Strategy Advisory Committee, a supporting working group and engaged other stakeholders representing a broad cross section of the university community including students, staff and faculty. The advisory committee developed a three-year action plan that includes a series of initiatives with measurable outcomes.

building a culture of care

Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment (HRHSE) has built an annual implementation and initiative plans that will support the implementation of the Culture of Care action plan. The action plan is built on four pillars: Buy-in and Organizational Alignment, Employee Empowerment, Recognition and Rewards and Reporting Systems.

The successful implementation of the action plan is a coordinated effort, with shared responsibilities across the university, leading to a robust and integrated safety culture. An embedded safety culture means a university commitment to the physical, psychological and cultural safety and well-being of the university community. This is achieved by integrating this action plan with other ongoing plans and strategies including (but not limited to) the Indigenous Strategic Plan, the Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity, Suicide Prevention Framework and the Healthy University Strategic Plan.

“At the University of Alberta, we prioritize safety to protect the health and well-being of our students, employees and visitors. Safe behaviour is our shared responsibility and our legal obligation — but more importantly, it is also our ethical obligation.”

Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-Chancellor

Stories

Consider This: A hands-on approach to chemistry lab safety training
Consider This
Consider This: A hands-on approach to chemistry lab safety training
How breaking beakers and spilling solvents can be used to help students prepare for incidents in the lab.
October 10, 2024
Consider This: Making our campuses safer together
Consider This
Consider This: Making our campuses safer together
We all have a vital role to play in keeping our campuses safe for learning and work.
October 12, 2023
A life forever changed: sharing the personal meaning of a workplace incident
In the Community
A life forever changed: sharing the personal meaning of a workplace incident
In honour of National Day of Mourning, Shalin Bukkems, talent management consultant for HRHSE, remembers her father who lost his life in a work-related incident.
April 19, 2023
From the Provost’s Desk: A new sexual and gender-based violence policy to guide our community
From the Provost's Desk
From the Provost’s Desk: A new sexual and gender-based violence policy to guide our community
U of A reaffirms commitment to sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response with updated policy.
November 29, 2022
U of A launches all-gender washroom pilot program
In the Community
U of A launches all-gender washroom pilot program
Working together to provide safe and accessible spaces for our whole community.
October 20, 2022
Creating a culture of care
In the Community
Creating a culture of care
Feeling safe, valued and respected is integral to an inclusive culture.
July 14, 2022
An update from the U of A's Sexual Violence Response Coordinator
In the Community
An update from the U of A's Sexual Violence Response Coordinator
Current initiatives to address and prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
April 14, 2022
Leading and working in hybrid teams: 5 tips for creating an effective workplace
In the Community
Leading and working in hybrid teams: 5 tips for creating an effective workplace
Staff can use their existing competencies to create an effective workplace that addresses the hybrid work model. Learn five key tips to get you started.
February 23, 2022
Clearing the air about wildfire smoke and air quality on our campuses
Consider This
Clearing the air about wildfire smoke and air quality on our campuses
A research group in the Faculty of Science provides recommendations from their study of buildings on North Campus to help the university community be vigilant about air quality.
June 20, 2024
Consider This: The value of creating a culture of safety at U of A
Consider This
Consider This: The value of creating a culture of safety at U of A
As we work towards our goals in the Culture of Care action plan, it’s important that everyone makes a commitment to safety.
May 18, 2023
Life-saving skills: Elevating health and safety across our campus communities
In the Community
Life-saving skills: Elevating health and safety across our campus communities
Committing to a culture of care CPR and Standard First Aid certification.
March 23, 2023
From the Provost's Desk: Keeping healthy through influenza season
From the Provost's Desk
From the Provost's Desk: Keeping healthy through influenza season
Following personal health measures, staying home when unwell and accommodating our students are keys to protecting our U of A community.
November 15, 2022
From the President’s Desk: No place for gender-based oppression and violence
From the President's Desk
From the President’s Desk: No place for gender-based oppression and violence
On behalf of the University of Alberta, President Flanagan reflects on the death of Mahsa Amini, expressing support for those who have taken courageous steps in the pursuit of human dignity for all.
September 27, 2022
Safety as a value
In the Community
Safety as a value
Committing to safety as a shared core value is a commitment to a safer culture.
June 07, 2022
We all have a role to play in preventing workplace sexual violence
U of A News
We all have a role to play in preventing workplace sexual violence
We all have the right to learn and work in an environment free of sexual violence.
March 24, 2022
Round up your high-hazard chemicals until March 31!
U of A News
Round up your high-hazard chemicals until March 31!
The U of A’s Chemical Round-Up is your opportunity to turn in your expired or damaged chemicals and learn about the risks associated with high-hazard chemicals on our campuses.
February 03, 2022
How protective services works with the community to keep our campuses safe
In the Community
How protective services works with the community to keep our campuses safe
Understanding U of A Protective Services’ role — and yours — in campus safety and security.
March 28, 2024
Reflecting on our shared safety responsibilities in honour of the National Day of Mourning
In the Community
Reflecting on our shared safety responsibilities in honour of the National Day of Mourning
U of A leadership reinforces their commitment to A Culture of Care.
April 27, 2023
Creating a safety-conscious culture in a research lab
In the Community
Creating a safety-conscious culture in a research lab
Jonathan Veinot and his team make safety a core value and a shared responsibility through open discussions and routine practices.
February 09, 2023
Identifying workstation bias
In the Community
Identifying workstation bias
Supporting working from home goes beyond a stable Wi-Fi connection.
October 25, 2022
Preparing for the next chapter in our efforts to address sexual and gender-based violence
In the Community
Preparing for the next chapter in our efforts to address sexual and gender-based violence
An update from the U of A's Sexual Violence Response Coordinator.
August 22, 2022
Meaning of safety
In the Community
Meaning of safety
In honour of National Day of Mourning, I'd like to share a story and encourage the U of A community to consider our commitment to safety and our culture to care.
April 26, 2022
From the President's Desk: Celebrating U of A Pride Week 2022
From the President's Desk
From the President's Desk: Celebrating U of A Pride Week 2022
Pride Week matters. At the U of A, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where we can respectively celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ identities, experiences and histories.
March 10, 2022

Resources

For more information, contact  hse.info@ualberta.ca