Dufferin Aggregates recognized as one of Canada's Safest Employers; culture of positive, proactive prevention ensures everyone goes home safely, every day

TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Dufferin Aggregates, a division of Holcim (Canada) Inc., is proud to have been recognized as one of Canada's Safest Employers in 2013. This honour identifies outstanding achievements in workplace health and safety that span eleven categories, including mining and natural resources, for which Dufferin Aggregates was selected.

"For the employees of Dufferin Aggregates, this award demonstrates the shared commitment of each and every one us to take ownership of our own individual safety and that of our colleagues, at all levels of the organization," said Ed Persico, General Manager, Dufferin Aggregates. "We've seen how simple and straight-forward safety-related ideas can have a big impact," he added. Dufferin Aggregates has a comprehensive occupational health and safety management system, based on internationally recognized management systems and adapted to the Canadian context, and has enjoyed a very strong safety performance record in the last several years.

Health and safety comes first at Dufferin Aggregates and Holcim Canada. Across the company, the philosophy of Zero Harm encourages positive, proactive prevention to create a culture that demonstrates a commitment to every person going home safely at the end of every day. Dufferin Aggregates shares best practices across its sites through a joint health and safety committee and cross site audits. Furthermore, Dufferin Aggregates recently made concrete efforts to educate and open lines of communication with contractors on Dufferin's expectations with regard to health & safety.

"Canada's Safest Employers Awards recognize companies from across Canada that are raising the bar in occupational health and safety," said Amanda Silliker, Editor of Canadian Occupational Safety. "We all have the same goal of ensuring workers go home safe at the end of the day, and the awards highlight best practices that health and safety professionals can take back to their own organizations. These awards allow us to shine light on the companies that are leading the way in safety excellence, and hopefully inspire others to follow their example."

Canada's Safest Employers' Awards 2013 winners were announced at a gala in Toronto on October 30.

About Canada's Safest Employers Award
Canada's Safest Employers Award is presented by Canadian Occupational Safety magazine, a Thomson Reuters business. Launched in 2011, the awards recognize Canadian companies with outstanding accomplishments in promoting the health and safety of their workers.

About Dufferin Aggregates
Dufferin Aggregates, a division of Holcim (Canada) Inc., is a leading supplier of aggregates for the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and adjacent municipalities. Dufferin Aggregates runs 23 sites across Ontario and is a key part of the communities where it operates. With its many awards for community relations, resource and environmental management, Dufferin Aggregates has gained regional, national and international recognition as an industry leader.

SOURCE: Holcim Canada Inc.