More than 200,000 hours of safe operation were celebrated recently at Lafarge Canada’s Exshaw cement plant in Alberta. The 150 laborers, equipment operators, millwrights, electricians, engineers and managers at the cement plant worked injury free for the better part of 2011and the streak continues into 2012.
Achieving this milestone means that even minor injuries have been avoided through safe work, good decision making, a focus on risk assessments, and a common goal to build a work culture that puts value on the safety of workers. Beyond employees not having missed even a single day work as a result of injury, there has not been a stitch, sprain or broken finger incurred by employees during this period. Lafarge Canada’s President for Western Cement Bob Cooper recognizes such high standards with his own “President’s Award” for Safety.
Cooper hosted a special lunch and recognition ceremony at Exshaw’s Legion Hall to share congratulations. He commented, “I am so proud of the safety culture that has taken root at Exshaw. Lafarge has put a great deal of work into assuring safe work practices and providing training, but it comes down to employee’s personal behavior and feeling of concern for each other that assures we all go home safely.”
