Toronto, ON – April 17, 2007 – IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) recognized six Ontario businesses today as champions of workplace health and safety at the inaugural presentation of its highest honour, the President’s Award.

“I believe there comes a time to celebrate achievement, not just for the excellence inherent in it, but for the excellence it can inspire in others,” says Maureen Shaw, IAPA President and CEO, at the launch of the President’s Award at IAPA’s annual health and safety conference and trade show, Health & Safety Canada 2007.

Canadian Blue Bird Coach Ltd. in Brantford, Casco Inc. in London, Lyndon Security Services Inc. in Sarnia, Plastiflex Canada Inc. in Orangeville, Steelcase Canada Ltd. in Markham, and Sulco Chemicals Ltd. in Elmira are the first recipients of IAPA’s President’s Award. Before an audience of more than 1,000 people, the six firms were recognized for exceptional health and safety performances, as well as a commitment to health, safety, and wellness through mentoring and community outreach opportunities.

“The recipients of the 2007 President’s Award each represent a different kind of business operation, everything from a bus manufacturer to a producer and supplier of corn-refined products to a supplier of security services. Yet there’s one common element, workplace health and safety is a priority,” adds Shaw. “Excellence in health, safety, and wellness is not exclusive to one workplace over another. Rather, it’s attainable to those individuals who say injuries, accidents, and illnesses in the workplace are not to be tolerated and then put the practices in place that see to their reduction and elimination.”

The President’s Award is only available to members of IAPA. In order to be eligible for consideration, Canadian Blue Bird Coach, Casco, Lyndon Security Services, Plastiflex Canada, Steelcase Canada, and Sulco Chemicals had to meet an extensive list of criteria that measures a company’s health and safety performance, as well as commitment to workplace health and safety:

• Record zero critical injuries or fatalities, as well as zero charges or convictions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act or Workplace Safety and Insurance Act for the two years prior to the date the award is issued.
• Record a lost-time injury/illness frequency rate less than 25% of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) rate group average attributed to businesses with similar operations for the two years prior to the application deadline (March 9, 2007).
• Record a total injury/illness frequency rate (lost-time and no lost-time) less than the equivalent WSIB rate group average for the two years prior to the application deadline (March 9, 2007).
• Demonstrate successful application of health and safety management system requirements, such as prevention methods, legislative compliance, and management practices.
• Complete an extensive self-assessment report and pass an on-site verification conducted by IAPA.
• Demonstrate significant efforts to use their health and safety excellence in ways that benefit the community, such as leadership contributions, donation of technical/professional resources for the development of standards/guidelines/best practices, outreach into the community on the subject of health and safety, or sponsorship of health and safety-related initiatives.

About the 2007 President’s Award Recipients

Canadian Blue Bird Coach Ltd. is a division of Blue Bird Corporation, one of the world’s leading bus manufacturers, delivering thousands of school buses, commercial buses, and recreational vehicles to the market each year.

Casco Inc. is Canada’s principal producer and supplier of corn-refined products categorized as starches, sweeteners, oil, and animal feed and meal; and the only refiner producing short-chain fructooligosaccharides. These products supply a customer base from pharmaceuticals to food to paper to feed lots.

Lyndon Security Services Inc. is a leading provider of professional uniformed security officers and security services, including patrolling. The company provides services to Southwestern Ontario clients in the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors.

Plastiflex Canada Inc., operating in Canada since 1984, primarily serves the central vacuum floor care market. Plastiflex Canada Inc. is part of Belgium-based parent company Plastiflex, a global leader in the hose making process.

Sulco Chemicals Limited is a Canadian manufacturer of sulphuric acid, oleum, and sodium bisulphate, and a packager of various other corrosive products.

Steelcase Canada Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Steelcase Inc., the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services, and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture, and technology products.

About IAPA

IAPA celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2007. Operating in Ontario since 1917, IAPA is a not-for-profit, member driven organization. Representing more than 50

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For more information, or for a photo of the award presentation, please contact:

Jennifer Pugsley
Communications and PR Specialist, IAPA
Tel: 905-614-4272, ext. 2233
E-mail: jpugsley@iapa.ca