Each year, Workplace Safety North (WSN), recognizes Ontario workplaces for health and safety excellence.

CAPTION: WSN President’s Award winner for Ontario paper, printing, and converting sector: Sonoco Canada – Trent Valley Mill, Trenton; left to right: Paul Andre and Doug Brown (WSN staff) with Alex Abes, Mill Manager.

At the Sept. 25 annual general meeting, the provincial health and safety association for mining, forestry, and paper, printing, and converting sectors, handed out its President’s Award to three top performers: North American Palladium – Lac des Iles Mine in Thunder Bay, Sonoco Canada Trent Valley Mill in Trenton, and Nordic Minesteel Technologies in North Bay.

“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 president, and chief executive officer. “The initial Workplace Excellence assessment is a self-assessment conducted jointly with either the worker member of the joint health and safety committee or, for smaller firms, their health and safety representative, and this supports the integrity of the results.”

WSN evaluates statistical performance – both in terms of year-over-year performance of the individual company, and performance against a specific Workplace Safety and Insurance Board rate group of peers. Firms scoring over 80 percent 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.

“I’m honoured to recognize the dedication to worker well-being, to creating and maintaining healthy and safe workplaces – and to bringing every worker home safe and healthy. Well done!

“It is so important to recognize the efforts of workplaces – ones that make health and safety a priority,” says Andre. “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.”