Mississauga, Ontario - February 29, 2008 - IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) presented the Namasco Blanking Centre in Brantford, Ontario with a Level III Health & Safety Achievement Award earlier today. The facility manufactures automotive blanks and stamped residential entry door panels.

After conducting an on-site verification of the facility’s health and safety systems on January 14, 2008, IAPA determined that it had successfully met the requirements needed to achieve this top-level award. These requirements included legislative compliance, a lost-time injury (LTI) frequency well below its rate group average, and a demonstrated commitment to health and safety. The Namasco Blanking Centre has shown this commitment through initiatives such as monthly all staff safety meetings, the development of safe operating procedures, and physical demands analysis for all tasks performed in its facility.

“This Level III Achievement Award recognizes the Namasco Blanking Centre’s strong commitment to health and safety and also its continued investment in its people,” says Michael Abromeit, Vice-President of Operations & Marketing, IAPA. “You are to be applauded for your diligence, hard work, and dedication because reducing and eliminating workplace incidents is only possible when everybody works together.”

“We are extremely proud of each and every employee at the Namasco Blanking Centre,” says Stan Boylan, Corporate Health and Safety Manager, Namasco Ltd. “This facility has enhanced its safety program and worked hard to create a health and safety culture that management and workers have embraced. Achieving this Level III award inspires all of us to continue striving for new ways to improve our safety programs.”

To qualify for this top-level award, the Namasco Blanking Centre met IAPA’s Level III criteria as outlined in a self-assessment report. The firm successfully demonstrated legislative compliance, effective prevention methods and management practices, and a LTI frequency that met IAPA requirements specific for all three levels of the awards program. This includes how a firm assesses and controls its hazards, as well as demonstrates a continued commitment to health and safety.

Namasco Blanking Centre has been a quality conscious provider of automotive blanks for both exposed and non-exposed applications, as well as stamped residential entry door panels for domestic and export markets since 1988.

Namasco Ltd . has been a leading full service provider of flat-rolled metal products in Canada for over 30 years. Namasco Ltd. is comprised of five divisions and five processing facilities in strategic locations in Eastern and Western Canada to serve the needs of Canadian customers from coast to coast. Key markets include: automotive, appliance, construction, furniture, agriculture, and general fabrication.

Namasco Corporation , as the North American subsidiary of Klockner & Co. AG of Duisburg, Germany, is a member of an organization long recognized as the largest independent steel and metal distributor by turnover in Europe and North America.

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

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For more information, contact:

Lena Wan
Communications and PR Specialist, IAPA
Tel: 905-614-4272, ext. 2247
E-mail: lwan@iapa.ca

IAPA presented a Level III Health & Safety Achievement Award to the Namasco Blanking Centre on Friday February 29, 2008. Seen here are:
(l-r) Sergio Cipriani (Operations Manager, Namasco Blanking Centre), Paul McDonald (Management Representative, Joint Health and Safety Committee, Namasco Blanking Centre), Dan Silva (Worker, Namasco Blanking Centre), Stan Boylan (Corporate Health and Safety Manager, Namasco Ltd.), Duarte Benevides (Manufacturing Improvements Coordinator, Namasco Blanking Centre), Michael Abromeit (Vice-President of Operations & Marketing, IAPA), and Denise Williams (Consultant, IAPA)

Photo courtesy of IAPA.