We continually strive to create a work environment that is free from accidents and injury. Our health and safety standards are enforced throughout the organization from the shop floor to the offices of the Board of Directors.
We provide education, training and awareness so that all employees know how to be accountable for their health and safety as well as the safety of their co-workers and visitors. We feel that all employees have a responsibility to follow safe working procedures, to be aware of all hazards and take appropriate action. Working safely is a condition of employment.
To ensure a safe working environment, we have a three-pronged approach to review, follow up and reinforce safe workplace behavior.
First, at each of our locations, members of our safety teams perform Annual Corporate Health & Safety audits outside of their own region. These audits result in a formal report on findings and timelines for the implementation of suggested improvements. Second, our Internal Audit Team has included a Health & Safety section in their location audits. Finally, our regional managers conduct worksite inspections for our new Layered Observational Audit program.
Our emphasis on a safe workplace has led to a significant improvement in our Lost Time Incidents.
Our 2024 health & safety initiatives include:
- 10% reduction of lost time incidents, near misses and medical aids
- continue reinforcement of Critical Incident and Near Miss reporting
- continue our benchmark initiative with MSCI member companies
- continue peer to peer job observations
- focus on hand injury tracking, prevention, and training
- focus on No Touch Tool utilization in all warehouses
- complete implementation of Occupational Injury / Illness Management Program
- continue to monitor implementation and use of Trailer Fall Prevention Systems
- finalize reporting criteria for tracking using Smartdrive Technology Reporting Tools
The table below shows our primary health and safety metrics and the number of employees over the last three years.
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Employees | 3,501 | 3,350 | 3,300 |
| Number of Lost Time Accidents | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Number of Lost Time Days | 201 | 289 | 613 |
| Frequency1 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.33 |
| Severity2 | 5.80 | 8.65 | 19.93 |
| Medical Aids3 | 116 | 101 | 111 |
| First Aids4 | 170 | 136 | 110 |
1 Frequency is calculated using the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z16.4 Code, Method of Recording and Measuring Work Injury Experience. The calculation is an industrial standard and is obtained by multiplying the number of lost time injury cases by 200,000, and then dividing that number by the number of hours worked by employees of the company in such year.
2 Severity is calculated using the ANSI standard as is obtained by multiplying the number of lost time days by 200,000, and then dividing that number by the number of hours worked by employees in such year.
3 Medical Aid is defined as treatment by a medical professional for illness or injury.
4 First Aid is defined as any assistance given to any person for illness or injury, where professional assistance is not required