Canadian Occupational Safety

November 2014 21 only progress, but also identifi ed gaps and opportunities — and celebrated employee-driven safety efforts. And they are marked by solid results. "For example, as of August 2014, Nestlé Waters Canada had worked 688 days without a lost-time injury, and fi rst-aid injuries in 2013 had dropped by 30 per cent," adds Carey. Over the past few years, safety has evolved from being a priority — a metric — into a value, making it part of the company's belief system. It has meant building a culture of high standards and encouraging everyone to speak up about hazards and get involved in all programs. "It is also about promoting a mind- set of injury prevention among workers to protect themselves, their peers and the environment," says Carey. One of the big successes is the Care Card program, which encourages employees to fi ll out a card when they see someone working at risk and use it as a basis for documenting discus- sions about safety issues to pre-empt injuries. Topics could include untidy spaces that might lead to slips and falls or a new employee using the wrong tool for a job. The values philosophy is under- lined by OHSAS 18000 certifi cation, which demonstrates Nestlé's com- mitment to exceeding minimum regulatory requirements and focusing on continuous improvement. "Our commitment to safety is all about protecting our number 1 asset: our people," says Carey. "And their safety will not be sac- rifi ced in pursuit of other business targets." "The company also works constantly to provide employees with a safety net of proper work facilities, up-to-date equipment, effi cient practices and pro- cedures and hands-on support." This has paid off in 13 years with- out a lost-time incident and declining total recordable incident frequency (TRIF) rates. Over the past three years, the overall TRIF average has been 0.49, while vehicle rates have declined from 0.90 in 2011 to 0.74 in 2013. According to Smith, president Derek Polsfut's passion for safety permeates the company. Polsfut demonstrates his belief that safety leadership must come from the top by staying current on safety regulations and codes — and even attending safety meetings. This also refl ects the company's philosophy of using face-to-face meetings for relaying information to employees. However, the latest technology in tracking, training and communications reinforces the corporate safety net. "Techmation's safety culture did not happen by accident; it was executed by hard work and dedication," adds proj- ect manager Kurtis Kimball. Many initiatives that contribute to the safety culture rely on inno- vative technology. For example, Techmation's trucks are equipped with the latest GPS monitoring sys- tems that not only track the location of every truck at any given time but also report the speed at which they are travelling. Workers in remote areas have satellite phones and must call in every four hours to let their supervi- sors know they are safe. The company has also introduced "world-class" e-learning modules for orientation and ongoing training that are well- received and effective, says Smith. "Both employees and management recognize that a safe workplace is a successful one," he says . "And that's the bottom line." E nsuring 1,100 employees go home safely every day is everyone's busi- ness at Airdrie, Alta.-based Techmation Electric & Controls. The company delivers heavy-industry electrical and instrumentation services to compa- nies across Western Canada — among them Husky, Encana, Apache Canada and Canadian Natural Resources. The massive jobs come with unique safety challenges that include work- ing on large sites with hundreds of tradespeople or being sent to remote locations with just a few. It means work- ing around high voltages and currents that present huge risks. Four hundred service vehicles that log more than 20 million kilometres annually take work- ers and equipment to various sites. "To meet our goal of keeping all of us safe all the time, we hold everyone accountable for using safe practices and procedures," says health, safety and environment manager Tyler Smith. • Tarpon Energy Services • Weatherford Canada Partnership Oil and Gas MORGUARD.COM Morguard Congratulates the 2014 Recipients of Canada's Safest Employers Awards At Morguard, our owned and managed properties house families and businesses across Canada and the United States. We are committed to real estate and we are committed to the highest level of safety and health for our employees, tenants, contractors and guests. BUILDING A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND HEALTH T: 905-281-3800 Winner of Canada's Safest Employers Award: Gold Retail/Services and Wellness SILVER GOLD

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