The Cascades Occupational Health and Safety Department resides at Cascades' headquarters in Kingsey Falls. Department management is assisted by a team of seven coordinators who see to the application of Cascades' corporate directions regarding occupational health and safety (OHS) in all the Group's operating units. Connected to the Occupational Health and Safety Department is Cascades' Health Department, primarily focused on the well-being of Cascades employees.

Since the respect of individuals is Cascades' first concern, corporate management has established a specific corporate policy for OHS issues. These objectives are supported by a comprehensive action plan that is tailored to each of the company's operating units. The overall process involves replacing systems and procedures as well as developing training programs and result control procedures in a context of integrated OHS management. This major change, which started early in the new millennium, resulted in a regular drop in the frequency and severity of accidents at Cascades.

Managers Directed to Improve Safety

In 2006, Cascades applied new OHS directions that would direct all managers to improve safety. These managers were assigned specific tasks subject to regular follow-up and for which compensation was based on reaching set objectives. This plan was a success: to date, 88% of managers—from group presidents to floor supervisors—attained the desired results, whereas 5% of them managed to exceed them. This information shows how serious Cascades is about health and safety, as well as its will to do even better in the future.

Machine Safety Intervention Service