Québec City, June 14, 2022 – At the annual convention of the Québec Mining Association (QMA) on June 9, several mining companies were honoured for their workplace health and safety performance and for other initiatives and innovations connected with their mining operations
F.J. O’Connell trophies
The presentation of the high-profile 56th annual F.J. O’Connell trophies led to a tie in two categories: “Underground operations—over 400,000 hours worked” and “Surface operations, transportation and primary metals processing”.
Raglan Mine, a Glencore company, and Agnico Eagle’s Goldex Mine won in the “Underground operations—over 400,000 hours worked” category, while Glencore’s Horne Smelter and Bird Civil et Mines took the honours in the “Surface operations, transportation and primary metals processing” category
Since 1966, the trophies have been presented each year to make workers and supervisors more aware of the importance of teamwork in preventing accidents during mine operations. The criteria for awarding the trophies take into account a company’s approach to prevention and its final performance. They are based on the OSHA frequency rate, the severity rate, the completion of a work and safety diagnosis, the application of the supervisory formula and work card, and audits of the supervisory formula.
QMA Distinction Awards
Last year, the QMA created its Distinction Awards to recognize successes in other areas of mine operations.
For the second time in its history, the QMA presented these new awards to recognize innovative, distinctive or creative achievements in the following areas of activity: communications/marketing, environment, community relations and human resources.
The winners in each category were:
- Communications-marketing: Glencore’s Horne Smelter, for its communications strategy as part of the “VELOX” project
- Environment: Wesdome’s Kiena mine, for its selection of ground reinforcement techniques at the base of its tailings mounds;
- Community relations: Yamana Gold’s Wasamac project, for the development and implementation of mitigation measures to considerably reduce the noise impacts of its activities;
- Human resources: Agnico Eagle Mines’ Laronde mine, for its technological shift to virtual reality as a learning tool.
The QMA congratulates all the finalists in the various categories.
« The QMA is proud to honour all the players that have helped improve the mining industry in all areas connected directly or indirectly to mine operations. The many different awards presented at the gala awards ceremony highlight the innovative approach taken to ensure a responsible mining industry that operates in a way that is respectful of communities, people and workers. Congratulations to all the prize winners! »
– Josée Méthot, QMA president and CEO
About the Québec Mining Association
The Québec Mining Association (QMA) was founded in 1936 and speaks proactively for mining companies involved in exploration, extraction and processing, mining contractors and junior mining companies, along with suppliers, institutions, non-profit organizations and other mining sector partners. It is proud of the 48,187 jobs and total expenditure of $11.2 billion generated by Québec’s mining industry in 2020. The QMA’s mission is to promote, support and proactively develop a responsible, committed and innovative mining industry in Québec.