Dufferin Aggregates was awarded the 2021 Safety Innovation Award at OSSGA's 2022 Annual Conference in Toronto for the firm's Headbox Modification project at Flamboro Quarry in West Flamborough, Hamilton, Ontario.
The project was born after its team consisting of Amar Khan, Dale Arnold, Paul Sardella, Odette Palis, and Neil Woodcock of Flamboro Quarry's joint health & safety committee (JHSC) discussed concerns regarding clearing material jams from the headbox. The usual procedure involved climbing onto the belt to access the headbox.
The Flamboro Quarry team worked with Sovereign Fusion to engineer a solution that allowed workers to access the jam in the headbox safely by adding a lockable gate. A common Working at Heights risk was eliminated through a Safe Work Procedure review and collaboration with the JHSC while ultimately improving plant performance and efficiencies.
Honourable SIA Award 2021 mentions also went to:
- CRH Canada Group Inc. Dufferin Aggregates - Flamboro Quarry Project: Installation of additional platforms with guardrails to the fines screen platform to eliminate working at heights risk.
- CRH Canada Group Inc. Dufferin Aggregates - Millcreek Pit Project: Implementation of an electric belt cutter as a safer replacement for knives for cutting/splicing conveyor belts and rubber skirting.
- CRH Canada Group Inc. Dufferin Aggregates - Teedon Pit Project: Installation of a hand railing to allow employees to access the flume chute safely, avoiding working at heights.
- CRH Canada Group Inc. Dufferin Aggregates - Teedon Pit Project: Improved traffic flow and avoiding truck lineups by relocating overload area, creating a dedicated tarping area, and relocating parking area to prevent pedestrians from walking into traffic.
In 2020, OSSGA introduced the Safety Innovation Award, recognising innovative practices, programs and projects in Ontario's aggregate industry. The award honours innovations that improve the health and safety of employees, subcontractors and the public in OHS management systems, health and safety training, wellness programs and culture.
For more information on OSSGA's Industry Recognition Awards Program, visit ossga.com/awards. For a growing list of past winners, visit GravelFacts.ca/community
