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Make health and safety a Workplace affair.


Safety is not just a watchword at Sault Ste. Marie Sault Sainte Marie — pronounced "Soo Saint Marie" (IPA /su seɪnt məˈɹi/) — is the name of two cities on the Saint Marys River, which forms part of the boundary between the United States and Canada.  Public Utilities Commission Services Inc.; it is engrained within the corporate culture.

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The utility was honoured this fall by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce with the Safe Work, Sound Business Award for its achievements in promoting safety throughout its 127-person workforce and in promoting safety throughout the community through advertising campaigns, education safety programs and community outreach volunteer programs.

Further recognized by the Utility Electrical Safety Association as a world-class safety leader, the company prides itself in going the extra mile beyond the requirement set out by the Occupational Health and Safety Act by employee time and untold financial resources towards implementing a pro-active safety management system.

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 the Electrical Utility Safety Association, the Sault PUC (Public Utility Commission) A regulatory body in every state in the U.S. that governs public utilities within its jurisdiction such as electricity, gas, oil, sewer, water, transportation and telephone service. Some states call it the Public Service Commission (PSC).  is the only company in the utility industry to have every employee trained in Basic Certification Level 1--translating to three days of intensive health and safety training--as prescribed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB WSIB Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
WSIB Washington State Investment Board
). All members of the company's 12 health and safety committees have Level 2 certificates.

"In the last three or four years, we've really gotten serious about going beyond what everyone else is doing in trying to be a leader in the community," says Al Tourigny, manager of safety and environment, who pays credit to CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board.  Brian Curran Brian Phillip Curran (born November 5, 1963 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He was the general manager and head coach of the Quad City Mallards until he resigned on April 26, 2007.  for strongly promoting safety in the workplace.

Besides the regular compliance audits, internal inspections and inventories of their fall protection equipment and hazardous material, the utility stages employee safety breakfasts and appreciation dinners for their in-house safety facilitators.

The company also slips a monthly scratch-and-win ticket with a safety-oriented question into employees' pay envelopes, and the employees then have a chance to win prizes.

"Everybody seems to take a responsibility for safety," says Tourigny. "When we go to meetings, the hats come off and we work together in resolving issues."

www.ssmpuc.com

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario.  
COPYRIGHT 2003 Laurentian Business Publishing, Inc.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2003, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Employee Health
Author:Ross, Ian
Publication:Northern Ontario Business
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Dec 1, 2003
Words:323
Previous Article:Top Northern Courier Services.(Office Essentials)(Illustration)
Next Article:Employee health linked to productivity.(Employee Health)
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