Facility Services at Siltavuorenpenger won the Occupational Safety Award in 2011. Now the search is on for the next winner.

Laughter echoes through the halls at Siltavuorenpenger as a group of employees of Facility Services, winner of the occupational safety award a few years ago, pose for a photo on short notice. It seems these people have a sense of humour at work. Could this be why the unit won the award two years ago?

“The cleaners and porters may have tough jobs, but they are very committed to their work. We were encouraged to apply for the occupational safety award because of our cooperative spirit,” explains Service Manager Miia Keski-Levijoki, who leads the unit while managing cleaning duties.

Facility Services at Siltavuorenpenger employs nearly 30 cleaners and porters.  The unit is also responsible for the Forestry Building, the facilities of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Herbarium.

Propose a winner

The winner of the 2013 occupational safety award will be announced in March. You can propose a University community for the award before the end of February. 

The winner of the award will be a University unit which has made an effort to enhance occupational safety and health as well as the wellbeing of the entire working community, and has adopted new measures to promote this.

At Facility Services occupational safety includes not only taking care of the staff, but also maintaining the tools they use.

“Good tools are essential, and must be repaired when necessary. I also encourage my staff to use their professional judgement for what should be done at any given time,” Keski-Levijoki explains.

An award for promoting workplace wellbeing

Facility Services shared the award in 2011 with the University’s telephone services. The 5,000-euro cash award was divided so that Facility Services received 3,000 due to its larger size.

Facility Services used the award money to promote staff wellbeing.

“We spent the money on food! Most of us took a lunch cruise and the rest went for a buffet lunch on shore. In our line of work we normally scarf down a quick bite, so it was nice to take our time with lunch at work,” Keski-Levijoki points out.

Nominations for candidates for the occupational safety award 2013 will be accepted from all University of Helsinki employees and units through 28 February 2014. The award will be granted to a University unit which has made efforts to enhance occupational safety and health as well as the wellbeing of the entire working community, and has adopted new measures to promote this.

Nominate candidates for the occupational health and safety award 2013!

Occupational safety award (in Finnish)

Occupational safety newsletter

Text: Tiina Palomäki
Translation: University of Helsinki Language Services