Toronto, Ontario – January 23, 2007 – On Monday, January 22, 2007, IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) awarded CanGro Foods, one of Canada’s leading processors of vegetables and fruits, with a Level I Health & Safety Achievement Award for its workplace health and safety performance. The Level I Award is presented to CanGro’s manufacturing facility in Exeter, Ontario, a first-time recipient of an IAPA achievement award.

In order to receive the Level I Award, CanGro successfully demonstrated that their prevention methods, legislative compliance, management practices, and lost-time injury (LTI) frequency met IAPA’s specific award requirements. This includes how hazards are assessed and controlled, as well as a demonstrated commitment to, and knowledge of, health and safety. CanGro also met the requirements set out in a self-assessment report and passed an on-site verification conducted by IAPA.

“This Level I Award is an indicator of the commitment and hard work that CanGro has undertaken in order to build a strong safety culture at this facility,” says Larry McIlmoyle, IAPA Principal Consultant, assigned to work with CanGro.

“All of us at CanGro are extremely proud of this significant accomplishment,” says Steve Gallagher, CanGro’s Vice President of Human Resources. “This is a strong and clear indication of the value our organization places on health and safety and our thanks and congratulations go out to all management and staff at the Exeter facility”.

IAPA’s three-level Health and Safety Awards program marks significant milestones in an organization’s dedication to health and safety in the workplace. The program provides the tools for companies to take a proactive approach to achieving health and safety excellence, while ensuring their health and safety initiatives address industry standards and the needs of employees. The program also provides guidelines for incorporating effective health and safety processes into an organization’s plan, management practices, and injury prevention programs.

The Level I Award recognizes workplaces for ensuring that their health and safety programs meet basic legislative requirements and management practices, and that their LTI frequency falls below the average for companies in a similar grouping, for a 12-month period. The next two levels build on the first.

Thirty-six companies have received IAPA’s Level I Award since the launch of the progressive awards program in 2002.

CanGro Foods, Inc. is a leading grower, processor, and canner of several premier brands in Canada including Aylmer tomatoes, vegetables, condensed and Ready To Serve (RTS) soups; and owns the perpetual Canadian licensing rights for a number of Del Monte products including canned fruit and vegetables. CanGro operates three canning plants, all within 300 miles of Toronto, with the majority of the product shipped to Canadian customers.

IAPA is a not-for-profit, member driven organization operating in Ontario since 1917. Representing more than 50,000 member firms and in excess of 1.5 million Ontario workers,

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