Graymont’s Pavilion Lime Plant marked NAOSH (North American Occupatinal Safety and Health) Week this year by holding events on May 8 and 9 at its plant and at high schools in Lillooet and Ashcroft.
Graymont received the Mining Division award last year for its NAOSH submission.
This year’s events kicked off with a flag-raising ceremony, pancake breakfast and a mine rescue demonstration in which the team set up a zip line and a mechanical advantage lift and pull.
The Injured Olympics demonstrated to students what it would be like to lose their vision or a limb by having them try to putt a golf ball into the cup while standing on one leg, shooting a basketball with the loss of vision in one eye and shooting a hockey puck using one arm.
The day also included a Fatal Vision goggles race, which challenged competitors to try to operate a remote controlled toy vehicle around traffic cones. It was intended to show how alcohol can impair vision and was run by Cst. Leonard Isaac of the Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police.
Ira Harry, the plant’s production supervisor, went through the safety indoctrination with all of the visitors and school students at the plant on May 8. He also showed them the basics of safety by showing them the plant’s safety procedures for locking equipment out, personal protective equipment (PPE) and fundamental safety rules. Prizes were given out to all who participated in the day’s activities.
The plant also arranged for injured worker and keynote speaker Nick Perry from Worksafe BC to tell his story at Lillooet Secondary School and Ashcroft Secondary School. He had his back broken during a workplace accident and went through multiple surgeries to repair it. He advised the students to request safety training and also informed them about their right to refuse unsafe work.
He also bought three video recorders for the students to make a safety video for Worksafe BC. Ashcroft, Lillooet and Clinton all received a recorder and to date only Lillooet submitted a video.
A Health and Wellness Fair was held May 9, when local health professionals came to the plant to run tests for cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
There was also a smoking cessation presentation, which showed the effects of smoking and ways to quit. A health and wellness professional from Kamloops was on hand to answer questions about eating habits and exercise routines. A barbecue was held at the end of the day’s activities. The health professionals all received gifts for their contributions for that day.
More than 80 school students visited the plant and about 50 other visitors joined in the fun.
Ira Harry told the News Graymont wishes to express its appreciation to everyone involved and to those who contributed donations and gifts.
“Graymont plans on promoting NAOSH every year and are always open to any ideas or suggestions for promoting this great cause,” said Harry.
