Northern Ontario companies were among a trio to receive a top honour from Workplace Safety North (WSN).
The provincial health and safety association celebrated best practices in the mining, forestry, and paper, printing, and converting sectors during its annual general meeting on Sept. 25 in North Bay.
Lac des Iles Mine in Thunder Bay and Nordic Minesteel Technologies in North Bay received the President’s Award, which is bestowed on top performers in their industries. A third company, Sonoco Canada Trent Valley Mill in Trenton, west of Kingston, rounded out the trio.
“The President’s Awards shine a spotlight on the health and safety achievements of WSN member firms and community-based clients,” says Paul Andre, WSN’s president and CEO, in a news release.
Companies are initially vetted through a self-assessment, completed in conjunction with the companies’ health and safety representatives.
WSN then evaluates the companies against year-over-year performance and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board standards.
Firms scoring over 80 per cent are awarded a Workplace Excellence Award. The top scoring firm in each category is eligible for the President’s Award following on-site validation from a WSN health and safety specialist.
“It is so important to recognize the efforts of workplaces – ones that make health and safety a priority,” Andre said in the release.
“I consider the award winners to be positive role models to help Ontario businesses make workplace health and safety an integral part of every job and every workday."
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Earlier this year, 23 companies received a Workplace Excellence Award, recognizing workplace excellence in health and safety.
In order to qualify for a Workplace Excellence award, companies must complete an assessment of current health and safety programs, note areas for improvement, and develop an action plan to improve their safety performance.
Companies include:
Alex MacIntyre and Associates, Kirkland Lake
DeBeers Group of Companies – Victor Mine, Northern Ontario 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat
Cementation Canada, North Bay
DMC Mining Services, Vaughan
Domtar, Dryden
Dumas Contracting, Timmins
Glencore – Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations
KGHM – Sudbury Operations, Sudbury
Kidd Operations – Glencore Canada, Timmins
Kirkland Lake Gold Macassa Mine Complex, Kirkland Lake
Kirkland Lake Gold Taylor Complex, Val Gagne
Kirkland Lake Gold Holt Complex, Matheson
Newmont Goldcorp – Porcupine Gold Mines, South Porcupine
Newmont Goldcorp – Red Lake Gold Mines, Balmertown
Nordic Minesteel Technologies, North Bay
North American Palladium - Lac Des Iles Mine, Thunder Bay
Redpath Canada, North Bay
SCR Mining and Tunnelling L.P., Val Caron
Sonoco Canada - Trent Valley Mill, Trenton
Tahoe Canada - Lake Shore Gold, Timmins
Technica Mining, Lively
Wallbridge Mining Company, Lively
Wellington Produce Packaging, Mount Forest
