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2020 Health & Safety Innovation Award announced at OSSGA virtual seminar

James Dick Construction’s Brechin Quarry and Assinck Limited were presented with the Inaugural Health & Safety Innovation Award at the Ontario Stone Sand and Gravel Association’s (OSSGA) 2021 Virtual Operations, Health & Safety Seminar in February.

The award was given in recognition of their innovative Safe-T-Key that allows for opening and closing doors, and punching keypads without touching surfaces, helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The key was developed to fit in the palm of your hand. Its length prevents a user from touching doors yet it is small enough to be handy and store on your person. It is made of aluminum, which weighs less than steel and is designed to open both tubular and flat panel doors.

“The Safe-T-Key originated from the need to eliminate touching the surface of a high-frequency door handle to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Matt McDonald, occupational health & safety manager of James Dick Construction. “An idea between safety representatives and an imaginative fabricator progressed to brainstorming doodle-art on a welder’s bench and then to a proto-type before being fine-tuned for production. The Safe-T-Key embodies the spirit of safety, innovation and collaboration.  James Dick Construction Limited and Assinck Limited are very proud to applaud the initiative and creativity of their valued employees.”

OSSGA’s Health & Safety Innovation Award is new for 2020 and recognizes innovative practices, programs and projects in Ontario’s aggregate industry. The award honours innovations that improve the health and safety of employees, subcontractors and the public in the areas of OHS management systems, health and safety training, wellness programs and culture.

For more information on OSSGA’s awards program, visit www.ossga.com/awards.