The pleasant conversation might distract you from seeing it but Natasha Kulikowski is perpetuating an aura of safety around her, or at least that’s her hope.
She was chosen as a speaker by the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission at an event held last week during North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.
Kulikowski spoke about creating a general safety consciousness around herself and hoping it feeds out into her friends, family and coworkers.
“Through myself making everything as safe as possible, hopefully I’m making it safe for them as well,” she said.
She works at the Inuvik Regional Hospital and sits on the organization’s workplace health and safety committee along with Michelle Lennie. The two of them staffed a booth at the hospital last week to provide workplace safety information.
Though Kulikowski works in an administrative role and may not be exposed to some of the more hazardous parts of the hospital, she keeps an eye out for filing cabinet drawers left open, cords hanging down or other hazards that could cause a nasty trip or fall.
It’s worth pointing out any such things, she said.
“I think that even the smallest little hazard that you see should be reported to someone, just so that you can prevent the chances of someone else getting injured,” said Kulikowski.
“We all, as individuals (and) as humans, have an obligation to look out for each other. Part of the safety atmosphere that’s created is that you mitigate any risks to yourself or anyone else.”
Lennie summed up the importance of establishing a safe workplace succinctly: “We’d rather prevent it than have to treat it.”
Full disclosure: The Inuvik Drum completed a work safety quiz after the interview and won a pen, chapstick and Band-Aids.