Industrial Health & Safety

Workplace health and safety, and the broader well-being of employees, are long-standing priorities at Alcan B.C. The ultimate goal is to eliminate workplace injuries altogether, and aggressive shorter-term targets and wide-ranging programs are in place, to ensure all parts of the operation are moving forward towards that objective.

Much of the recent focus has been on enhanced communication and awareness – regarding the status of safety-related performance, and contributing factors and corrective actions.

This begins with prominent safety awareness signs, which are posted at plant gates. Detailed safety-related information is also included within the regularly updated and widely distributed EHS Scorecard.

Employees throughout Alcan B.C. are encouraged to take ownership of safety issues, and the pre-start meetings that begin each shift include safety discussions.

Weekly “Leadership in Action” tours – involving superintendents and members of the joint union-management health and safety committee – have also broadened the dialogue on safety issues and sharpened the focus on improvement opportunities.

Other features of the safety culture at Alcan B.C. include: consistent use of personal protective equipment; ergonomically well-designed work spaces; extensive safety-related training; thorough assessments of the root causes of any incidents; and rigorous follow-through on improvement opportunities identified.

Various programs and facilities also exist to advance well-being more broadly. These include an onsite medical clinic and rehab and fitness centre, support for employee participation in fitness programs, and a family assistance program that provides counseling on issues ranging from substance abuse to financial planning.