At a Toronto gala on October 28, members of the retail and hospitality industry were recognized as Canada’s Safest Employers for 2015, a Thomson Reuters Awards program.

For the third year in a row, Morguard was honoured with a silver award in the retail and services category for its ongoing commitment to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) programs.

“We have taken a leadership position as a company, and in the real estate industry, to invest in programs that protect people in our owned and managed portfolio,” said K. Rai Sahi, chairman and chief executive officer of the Morguard Corporation. “It’s a terrific undertaking by all Morguard employees when you realize the scope and scale of our OH&S accountability.”

Of note, the company manages about three million work hours a year in Canada across its eight regional offices, more than 300 owned and managed commercial properties, and multiple development projects.

Meanwhile, in the hospitality category, Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York earned a silver, while Ontario’s Residence Inn by Marriot Downtown London won a gold award.

To ensure consistency and continuity in all things safety, the Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown London has proven that persistence, proactivity and continuous improvement are key.

“We can never rest on our laurels, no matter how successful we may have been in previous years,” said Anna McNutt, the hotel’s general manager. This ongoing diligence has not only kept lost-time injuries at bay, but also ensured that both staff and guests feel safe and secure.

Some of the staff safety training includes training on sharps disposal and other health procedures, as a growing number of guest complements stem from corporate contracts, such as hospitals that refer out-of-town clients to the hotel. Meanwhile, complicated training schedules among the 40-person staff have resulted in the development of a flexible train-the-trainer program for department managers to include those who cannot attend large group sessions.