Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 55

2014 ERA AWARDS HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLNESS

AWARD WINNER

SLEEP COUNTRY LIFTS HEALTH
AND SAFETY

Inspections and auditing critical to alleviating the strains and
pains of health and safety campaign
SLEEP COUNTRY made 2013 a turning point

in its campaign to reduce back injuries. Since
2007, upper and lower back strains and sprains
had been on a steady rise and finally reached a
plateau towards the end of 2012.
Sleep Country is Canada's largest mattress
and bedding retailer. What makes it unique
among retailers is how it distributes its workforce. At Sleep Country, 85 per cent of its associates work in sales and delivery. The retailer has
17 distribution centres internationally, makes
more than 300,000 deliveries per year (each
order weighing between 50 and 300 pounds).
It is no surprise then that Sleep Country
makes strains and sprains an area of focus with
its 2013 Back Safety Campaign.

with delivery teams to demonstrate safer lifting techniques.
What really created a positive shift was the addition of live
audits to the safety program. Every delivery team was audited at a minimum of twice per year, with most being audited
once per quarter. The teams received immediate feedback that
ranged from positive recognition to extensive coaching conversations, and where necessary, progressive discipline.
The results of the three-year campaign are enviable. When
comparing the results of 2013 to 2012, Sleep Country reduced
the number of overall injuries by 17 per cent and reduced upper and lower back injuries by 26 per cent, strains and sprains
by 31 per cent, and lifting injuries by 35 per cent. Modified
days dropped by 78 per cent and lost days dropped by 80 per
cent. As an unexpected bonus, an official from the Ministry of
Labour remarked that Sleep Country's training was the most
comprehensive they had seen.
In fall of 2013, Sleep Country continued
safe lifting training through a third-party.
The uptake in training was different this
time-the delivery teams became highly
engaged, ready and willing to learn, and
are applying the lessons.
Changes

Brett Abram, Vice-President of Human
Resources at Sleep Country, says Sleep
Country's employment brand reflects
not only what the company says it does
but what it actually does. When the employment brand-how employees see the
company-has strength and focus, retailers will see the value of their retail brand
increase. Health and safety is part of this
brand proposition.
"Today, our program is a part of how we
conduct our business and by extension,
Back Safety is top priority at Sleep Country.
strengthens our retail brand," says Abram.
Safety Measures
"We know consumers are aware of how a business operates and
The Back Safety Campaign educated asso- how it takes care of employees. A company's health and safety
ciates on proper back safety through a series program is a reflection of this and the value that it places on the
of dock talks, regular health and safety com- health of its associates."
munications, intensive training on how to lift,
Abram advises retailers looking to improve health and safety
and annual safe material handling sign-offs. to support the initiative through inspection. "Don't live by exThe retailer hired an ergonomist to ride along pectations," he says, "Live by investigations."

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Canadian Retailer - Store 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Store 2014

Member Insights
Retail Currents
Retail: At Issue
Canada's Top Retailers Honoured at Gala Awards Dinner
The Future of Retail Is—Now
Multiple Store Strategies
Industry's Innovation Recognized
Rewarding Canada’s Future Retail Talent
Grand Expectations for Grocery Rookies
Celebrating Excellence in Canada's Book Industry
Advertiser's Index
Retail Quick Tips
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - bellyband1
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - bellyband2
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - cover1
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - cover2
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Member Insights
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Retail Currents
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 8
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 9
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Retail: At Issue
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 12
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Canada's Top Retailers Honoured at Gala Awards Dinner
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 15
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 16
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 18
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 20
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 23
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 24
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 25
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 26
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 28
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 30
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 31
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 32
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 33
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - The Future of Retail Is—Now
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 38
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 39
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Multiple Store Strategies
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 42
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 43
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 44
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 45
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 46
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 47
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 48
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Industry's Innovation Recognized
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 50
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 51
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 52
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 53
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 54
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 55
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 56
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 57
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 58
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 59
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 60
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 61
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 62
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 63
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Rewarding Canada’s Future Retail Talent
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 65
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 66
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 67
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Grand Expectations for Grocery Rookies
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 69
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 70
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 71
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Celebrating Excellence in Canada's Book Industry
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 73
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 74
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 75
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 76
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Advertiser's Index
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - Retail Quick Tips
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - cover3
Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - cover4
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