Achievement lies not so much in reaching the destination, but the journey in getting there.
Along the road minds shift and old habits die off, while healthier practices are adopted. It takes hard work and energy to revise ingrained patterns. When it comes to safety practices, Inco’s Garson Mine is staking out a leadership role by establishing positive safety practices for more than 200 workers.
With 574-injury-free days, Garson Mine has been recognized as Canada’s safest metal mine for 2005 by the Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). Garson Mine also won the trophy in 1945.
Management and workers were spotlighted at CIM’s 108th annual conference and exhibition held in Vancouver with the national John T. Ryan Trophy. Their close to “zero” reportable injuries record and their lowest lost time accident rate for 2005 made them a prime candidate for the trophy which is emblematic of safety leadership.
Every year Inco asks their foremen, superintendents and managers from every plant to develop a daily, weekly and monthly safety strategy that is aligned with company standards.
Each plant assesses their priorities through monthly meetings where “all levels of management are responsible for following the plan,” Terry Cholewinsky former 2005 Garson Mine superintendent says.
Group leadership is key to attaining the goal, he says.
“A lot of things have to come together. There has to be a will and a belief that this can be accomplished and the employees all have to work hard to accomplish this.”
Achievement came in small increments for Garson Mine. When workers attained a three-month, then a six-month goal without any disabling injuries managers celebrated their success. Suggestions and recommendations were welcomed regardless of worker status.
“If it means shutting down mine production to correct a deficiency, then that is what is done,” he says.
“The guys report everything.”
Everyone working at the mine is measured by what is called a disabling injury, an incident, which prevents a person from showing up for the next scheduled shift to perform normal duties.
Risk assessment cards outlining the proper health and safety practices for potentially hazardous situation is carried around by mine workers at all times. This laminated piece of paper fits snugly into a pocket of each worker and can be pulled out for referral at a moment’s notice. This helps reinforce good safety practices, Cholewinsky says.
What is even more interesting is what is on the back of these cards. Pictures of families, girlfriends and past-time activities including fishing and boating ring home the importance of staying healthy and safe. The practice of laminating personal photographs on the back of these company cards is unique to Garson Mine, but not for long. Due to its overwhelming success Cholewinsky intends to take the idea to several Sudbury mining operations.
“It works. The proof is in the pudding.”
With Sudbury mines going deeper and the summers getting hotter there is a greater need to educate workers inside and outside the workplace says Dave Duncan, present mine superintendent.
Deeper mines have their own sets of challenges with heat stress being one of them. Workers will have to keep hydrated through the shifts and learn to stretch to avoid muscle and ligament damage, Duncan says.
While accidents still happen in the workplace there is evidence more disabilities happen outside of work. Watching out for fellow employees on and off the job will be a growing priority, he says.
By 2015, the aim is to have three Inco plants with a “zero” harm status which means no fatalities, no injuries that require medical attention says Dave Cockburn, Local 6500 United Steelworkers worker and safety representative for Garson Mine
Mines are not made up of just bricks and mortar. Nor is it the company name above the door that makes the mine says Inco’s North American and Europe operations president Mark Cutifani.
It is the people working at the mine who carve out its reputation.
“And there is no greater success than the achievement here,” Cutifani says.
“It is a privilege to work for you,” he told Garson miners at a reception this summer celebrating their achievements.
