More than 360 km from Saguenay, near Lake Fleury, are located the headquarters and main plant of Chantiers Chibougamau. With over 500 employees, this company specializes in wood processing year-round. Over the years, the company has integrated the Scierie Landrienne mill as well as Nordic Kraft. One thing is certain: all their operations take place in northern Quebec, in rather remote regions. For Mylène Compartino, forest technician, and Dave Lepage, P.Eng., forestry and supply, health, safety, and the environment remain top priorities during their operations. Indeed, their teams do more than just process wood. They work in a demanding sector while ensuring the safety of all employees.
Discover how Chantiers Chibougamau ensures the safety of their employees
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What are the risks associated with the forestry industry and your activities?
Many risks are associated with forestry work. Whether physical, psychological, or mechanical, they require constant vigilance. For this reason, we focus on prevention. Building confidence within our teams is essential. We implement best practices in health and safety, with the ultimate goal of giving our employees peace of mind. On the field, they need to know that everything has been done to minimize accidents. Furthermore, in case of an emergency, we are ready to respond according to the highest standards.
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What measures have been put in place to ensure employee safety?
A dedicated team oversees all aspects related to health and safety. Every day, a tailgate meeting is held to review the rules and emergency protocols with the teams. This ensures direct communication with the workers and allows us to adjust guidelines according to the site and context.
In addition, another team develops emergency response plans. If a critical situation arises, we are ready to intervene quickly and efficiently.
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Why is it important for you to have an emergency response plan (ERP)?
Our organization focuses on people to ensure its success. For us, the company’s greatest asset is the individual. It is therefore only natural that we do everything possible to ensure their safety. In the event of an emergency, our emergency response plan allows us to take immediate control of the situation and helps minimize the impact of the event.
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Have you ever used Airmedic’s services?
Being a member of an air medical transport service is part of our emergency response plan. Although we haven’t had to use the service since joining, the sense of security it provides for us and our employees is essential. Indeed, our employees know they will be taken care of if needed—and that peace of mind is priceless.
“The guys always feel safe. It’s like a hand on their shoulder telling them that someone is watching over them 24/7.” – Mylène Compartino, forest technician
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How does Airmedic support and strengthen your emergency plan?
Quebec’s regulations and standards provide guidelines to ensure there are no hazardous areas for workers. However, Airmedic allows us to go even further. Thanks to their tools and services, we achieve high standards in terms of safety. We feel safe even in the middle of nowhere!
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How do you promote your Airmedic coverage?
It is important for us to inform our employees that they are protected by Airmedic and that our organization is Airmedic certified. We therefore present the certification to employees during spring introductions and mention it in our team meetings on a regular basis.
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Do you have any health and safety advice for companies in the forestry sector?
Fortunately, our industry is well aware that safety is a priority and that a helicopter transport service such as Airmedic undoubtedly contributes to this.
The Nordic Structures teamis made up of professionals who support partners in the construction industry in the use of engineering products, I-beams, beams, columns, and solid wood panels, from distribution to the completion of turnkey projects. “Nordic Structures” is also the brand name for their materials.
Since 2015, the Scierie Landrienne sawmill has been part of their family and continues to contribute to the growing demand for engineered wood products.
Since 2020, they have added kraft pulp manufacturing with the relaunch of the Nordic Kraft plant in Lebel-sur-Quévillon in order to supply pulp that is essential for the manufacture of tissue paper and food packaging, among other things.
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