Syncrude recognizes partners in environment, health and safety excellence

(Fort McMurray, Alberta) – The winners of the 2003 President’s Awards for Environment, Health and Safety Excellence were announced on June 29th.

Syncrude’s Utilities Department won this year’s President’s Award for Environment, Health and Safety Excellence. The Award recognizes the department?s efforts, improvements and initiatives towards building an incident- and injury-free culture at Syncrude. Indeed, there have been no lost-time injuries for Syncrude personnel in the Utilities department since October 1999 and April 2001 for contractors.

“I congratulate all the recipients of this year’s awards and acknowledge their work to prove that an injury-free environment is possible,” said Syncrude president Jim Carter. “These groups are examples of the success that can be achieved with determination and due diligence. All of our award winners should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

The President’s Awards are handed out annually to recognize the commitment of both Syncrude operating departments and contractors. Syncrude’s safety performance in fact is world-class and, at a recordable injury frequency of 1.10 per 100 person years worked, leads Alberta industry.

Awards were given to contractor companies in the following categories:

Best Overall Environment, Health and Safety Performance and Program (Large Company)
Chemco Electrical Contractors Ltd. for demonstrating the most comprehensive and well established program and performance, an emphasis on leadership and sharing with other companies, and greater than one million hours worked without a lost-time injury.

Best Overall Environment, Health and Safety Performance and Program (Small Company)
L. Robert for demonstrating the most comprehensive and well established program and performance, a focus on training employees to job and equipment requirements, verification of worker qualifications, and maintaining employee training records.

Most Improved Environmental, Health and Safety Program (Large Company)
Finning Canada for demonstrating the most improvement over previous year?s safety performance, with a significant reduction in injury performance, increased audit performance, and the completion of the Certificate of Recognition.

Most Improved Environmental, Health and Safety Program (Small Company)
Willbros MSI Canada Inc. for demonstrating the most improvement over previous year?s safety performance, with a significant reduction in injuries, and implementation of major EH&S program revisions.

Most Innovative Environment, Health and Safety Idea Implemented
CEDA-REACTOR Ltd. for demonstrating innovative thinking through the implementation of the remotely operated Super Lance, which has removed workers from high risk work and achieved significant operational efficiencies that contribute to longer coker run lengths.

Outstanding Safety Performance in a High Risk Large Project
North American Caisson Ltd. for demonstrating outstanding safety performance during extensive in-plant drilling of pilings in congested areas and in close proximity to operating units.

Lost-time Injury-free Work Experience
Alberta Building Trade Union Locals that have worked consecutive years without a lost-time injury on the Syncrude sites: