2021 Safety Awards

SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 ASHLEY GAUVIN

Every year at the Annual General Meeting and Convention of the Canadian Diamond Drilling Association, awards are presented to those companies that have achieved the lowest accident frequency and those companies who have excelled at reducing their accident frequency during the year. Every member drilling company is eligible for an award, provided they have during the year, presented the C.D.D.A. office with their statistics for every quarter and they have not had a fatality during the qualifying year. In 2021, 16 Companies in total reported to the CDDA resulting in 6 933 121 man-hours. 104 medical aids increase by 33 compared to last year and 29 lost times increase of 14 from last year.

The formula for determining accident frequencies includes ‘medical aid’ injuries in addition to their ‘lost-time’ counterpart. This computation of frequencies presents a more complete picture of our industry’s health and safety efforts and also simulates common industry practices.

The overall frequency for 2021 based on the formula, is 3.8 (4.0 in 2020).

The overall surface hours reported in 2021 was 5 171 146. The 2021 frequency for surface is 4.4 (3.9) last year.

The overall underground hours reported in 2021 was 1 761 975. The 2021 frequency for underground is 2.3 (4.1) last year.

Each year there are 3 categories each, for surface and underground, of the George Lemay Safety Awards, presented, if there are qualifying companies in each category.

Beginning with the SURFACE category, the Class A- Surface Award, is presented to the company whose surface operation man-hours total to more than 100,000 hours during the qualifying year and has attained the lowest accident frequency in the class provided it is equal to or below the national average.

The 2021 Class A-Surface award went to Hy-Tech Drilling having attained a 2.4″ frequency, the lowest in its class.

Next, the Class B- Surface Award is presented to the company whose surface operation man-hours total between 30,000 and 100,000 hours during the qualifying year and has attained the lowest accident frequency in the class provided it is equal to or below the national average.

The 2021 Class B-Surface award went to Bryson Drilling attained a “0″ frequency, the lowest in its class.

Next, the Class C- Surface Award is presented to the company whose surface operation man-hours total between 0 and 30,000 hours during the qualifying year and has attained the lowest accident frequency in the class provided it is equal to or below the national average.

No winner for 2021.

Going to the UNDERGROUND category, the Class A- Underground Award, is presented to the company whose underground operation man-hours total to more than 100,000 hours during the qualifying year and has attained the lowest accident frequency in the class provided it is equal to or below the national average.

The 2021 Class A-Underground Award went to Major Drilling Group. , having attained a “0.7″ frequency, the lowest in its class

Next, the Class B- Underground Award is presented to the company whose underground operation man-hours total between 30,000 and 100,000 hours during the qualifying year and has attained the lowest accident frequency in the class provided it is equal to or below the national average.

No Winner

Next, the Class C- Underground Award is presented to the company whose underground operation man-hours total between 0 and 30,000 hours during the qualifying year and has attained the lowest accident frequency in the class provided it is equal to or below the national average.

The 2021 Class C-Underground Award went to Team Drilling having attained a “0″ frequency, the lowest in its class.

As in the past years, the Association gives special recognition to that company that has achieved the greatest reduction in accident frequency over the previous year.

THE HENRY SKOWRONSKI MEMORIAL AWARD is presented to the company which has achieved the best reduction, on a percentage basis, of its accident frequency, provided that frequency is equal to or below the national average and that the company qualifying has attained a minimum of 100,000 hours worked. Companies that did not attain the required hours during the year may carry their hours back in order to qualify. As in any other category, a fatality during the qualifying year will disqualify the company from the competition. This year there were four qualifying companies.

There is no winner this year the qualified based on the frequency.

That wraps up the Awards presentations for this year. Congratulations to all the winners! We would all like to recognize all those companies and those individuals who have made a great effort over the course of the year to improve the health and safety in their workplaces. Keep it up! As with any worthy goal, perseverance is the key to success.