Recognized for Proactive Approach to Workplace Safety

Washington, D.C. – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) recognized Resolute Forest Products with a 2018 AF&PA Leadership in Sustainability Award for Safety for their Proactive Approach to Workplace Safety project. This is the second consecutive year AF&PA has honored Resolute for its sustainability advancements. The award was presented at AF&PA’s annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 9 in Dallas, Texas.

“By making every employee responsible for identifying potential safety hazards and helping create an injury-free workplace, Resolute achieved remarkable progress,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.

Resolute introduced a safety audit process focused on individual accountability, where employees are accountable for working safely at all times so as not to endanger their own health and safety or that of their co-workers. Individual accountability is achieved through the implementation of three components: pre-task risk analysis; proactive near-miss reports; and safety committee meetings. The project led 26 of the company’s operations to finish 2017 without a single recordable injury.

“We thank AF&PA for recognizing our safety peformance,” said Resolute President and Chief Executive Officer Yves Laflamme. “We always put the safety of our people first and maintain world-class standards to continuously measure and improve it. Our progress is part of our long-term goal of zero incidents across our operations.”

Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry, AF&PA’s annual awards are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories.

Projects that support progress toward the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals qualify for recognition in the “Leadership” category, which has five subcategories that correspond to the goals: Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Paper Recovery for Recycling, Safety, Sustainable Forest Management and Water. The “Innovation in Sustainability” award is reserved for projects that merit recognition for their contribution to sustainable business practices, not one of the goals specifically.

AF&PA’s 2018 Sustainability Report showed that the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry has made significant, measurable progress toward achieving its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals. For more information, visit sustainability.afandpa.org.

Resolute Forest Products with a 2018 AF&PA Leadership in Sustainability Award for Safety for their Proactive Approach to Workplace Safety project. Pictured: Seth Kursman.