Never neglect safety

The Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) publishes lost time, injury, and f atality reports through its National Work Injury/Disease Statistics Program (NWISP).

Doing a deep dive into the statistics for 2021 (the most recent available), we found that of the approximately 20 Canadian industries covered, manufacturing had the second most fatalities, with construction being the only industry to have more.

In all, 1,081 total fatalities were reported. With trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations accounting for nearly half (537), and occupations in manufacturing and utilities next at 120. The vast majority of injuries were exposure to harmful substances or environments with 728 f atalities. Other causes were contact with objects and equipment (80), falls (60), and transportation accidents (137). As exposure to harmful substances is the main reason for fatalities, it is no surprise that the majority of fatalities are caused by neoplasms, tumors, and cancer (401), and systemic diseases and disorders (329); with what we would term to be ‘accidents’ or traumatic injuries and disorders accounting got the major ity of the rest (322).

Fatalities are not as common, but they do happen, and in many cases are the reason for change within a company. However, lost time claims, which do not garner the same headlines, but are just as important to safety, are much more common.

According to the NWISP data, 277,217 lost time claims were recorded in 2021. With manufacturing once again placing second (37,655), this time behind the heath care and social assistance industry (67,685).

This is significant, as contact with objects and equipment (55,575) is the second leading cause of lost time claims. While the data does not specifically break down how many of these claims were related to maintenance work on machines, it is safe to say that incidents while doing maintenance work contr ibute to the number. Additionally, unlike fatalities, lost time claims were led by traumatic injuries and disorders (210,990).

What does this all mean for the manufacturing industry, and more specially, maintenance and reliability?

Putting it in perspective, when MRO asked its readers how important do you believe safety is at your company? Zero per cent said not important. With 60 per cent saying it is of utmost importance, 23 per cent saying it is important, and 10 per cent saying it somewhat important. Eight per cent said other.

What this shows is that everyone believes safety is important, with many going above and beyond to make sure their company is as safe as possible, while others may only do what they are required to do through legislations or standards. The latter group fail to see that this may be a short sighted vie. As not spending money on safety may help your bottom line in the short term, if an accident or fatality happen, and your company is found to be negligent and at-fault, the bottom line will be much worse off.

Keep in mind that safety spans many different aspects, with each needing to be thoroughly examined, and in turn turned into a safety program at your company. However, the key is to make sure that the procedures outlined in the program are followed, and any infractions are documented. The key for many companies is training, to make sure that their employees (and contractors) know what the policies and procedures are while on the premises.

Be sure to read our safety articles within this issue to help you be the safest you can be.

MARIO CYWINSKI Editor mcywinski@mro.ca

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SUMMER 2023 Volume 39, Number 2

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ACROW’S MODULAR STEEL TRUSS SYSTEM SUPPORTS REHABILITATION OF BRIDGE IN QUÉBEC

Acrow, an international bridge engineering and supply company, noted a steel truss system it designed was used to provide support to Pont Perrault during the project to rehabilitate the historic covered bridge in Québec. Although it had been many years since the bridge carried vehicular traffic, it was closed to pedestrians and cyclists in 2018 after damage to timber components was discovered.

Pont Perrault opened to traffic in 1929 and spans the Chaudiere River in the parish municipality of NotreDame-des-Pins. At 150.9 metres long, it is the longest covered bridge in the province.

After delays due to sharp increases in the cost of building materials during the pandemic, the project began in May 2022 and was completed in November

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enables us to respond rapidly to your requests. Our manufacturing can handle any size order. Our quality control procedures ensure consistent tolerances and our engineering expertise give you a deep knowledge base to draw on.

Equipment

CASCADES ANNOUNCES THE CLOSING OF A PAPER MACHINE AT ITS NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. FACILITY

Cascades is announcing the permanent shutdown of paper machine number two at its Niagara Falls, New York mill, which had been temporarily shut down since November 2022. The machine, amongst the oldest in the Container board platform, has a production capacity of 90,000 short tons per year, and would require investments for it to remain competitive. The permanent closure of this machine will impact approximately 40 positions. Most of these positions are currently vacant or will be subject to attrition in order to minimize the impact on the employees.

Cascades inc., a manufacturer of green packaging and hygiene products and also announces that it has produced its fir st roll of 100 per cent recycled container board at its Bear Island, Virginia mill.

The project created 700 jobs in the region during the construction phase, and 180 permanent jobs with the onset of commercial production.

The Bear Island mill is now entering the ramp-up phase of the machine and will gradually increase its production to reach full capacity. An official inauguration will be held in the coming months.

Business Operations

Hitachi Global Air Power Established

Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. announced the establishment of Hitachi Global Air Power, a new company bringing together its global compressed air business. Sullair will now operate under Hitachi Global Air Power.

“We are the same organization, ownership, leadership, and staff, but now we have a name that more clearly demonstrates Hitachi’s breadth of compressed air solutions, product lines and innovation that both Sullair and Hitachi bring to the market,” saidYasuhiro (Charlie) Takeuchi, president and CEO of HIES.

“In today’s relentlessly transforming society, Hitachi Global Air Power is uniquely positioned to raise the bar on the value we deliver to customers through our comprehensive portfolio of compressed air products and solutions such as Air as a Service.”

Sullair was founded in 1965, and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. in 2017.

Hitachi Global Air Power will continue to offer a full range of integrated compressed air solutions, including portable air compressors, industrial air compressors, aftermarket OEM parts, and fluids.

While Sullair will change its corporate name, the branding will remain intact on its products, including Sullair, Champion and Air-One. By maintaining m arket appearance, customers and distributors will continue to recognize the familiarity of the Sullair.

“The company name change from Sullair to Hitachi Global Air Power is only the latest move in a growing list of Hitachi’s commitments to our business and brand,” said John Randall, president and

CEO, Sullair. “Since our acquisition, Hitachi has invested more than $45 million in our company, and Hitachi has been instrumental in allowing us to expand our caliber and capabilities. We are excited about the opportunities ahead of us—for our business, employees, customers, channel partners and communities.”

Energy

PYRO GREEN-GAS COMPLETES INTEGRATED COLD TEST FOR A CLIENT

PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a hightech company that manufactures and commercializes advanced plasma processes and sustainable solutions to reduce greenhouse gases, announced that its subsidiary, Pyro Green-Gas has successfully completed the Integrated ColdTest (ICT) under a previously announced $9.3M project with a client, a diversified steel producer.

Under the terms of this project, Pyro Green-Gas has been mandated to (i) supply coke oven gas pur ification solutions and (ii) hydrogen production processes that have combined the potential to allow for the extracting of hydrogen with a 99.999 per cent purity level and improve the client’s environmental outcome. The successful demonstration of Pyro Green-Gas coke oven gas purification and hydrogen extraction processes during the ICT confirms that all systems, equipment, and their components meet and exceed the required operation and safety standards. The ICT achievement triggers an aggregate milestone payment of $460,000, which is expected to be received in the coming weeks. The balance for this project (approximately $920,000) would be ear ned upon the completion of two final milestones, namely obtaining the PAC and completing the post-performance bond.