Leading the way in safety and excellence
Written by The Mosaic Company
Mosaic’s Belle Plaine facility continues to achieve impressive safety results, embedding a strong safety culture among its employees and contractors. In 2023, the Belle Plaine site celebrated zero recorded injuries for the third time in seven years. This achievement highlights the site’s dedication to following industry-standard safety procedures and protocols. The Belle Plaine team also consistently enhances safety measures, challenges norms, and reduces risk.
Belle Plaine’s commitment to safety has garnered national recognition. The site received the John T. Ryan National Safety Trophy for Select Mines from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) for its impressive safety performance in 2023. Belle Plaine employees worked over 1.1 million hours in 2023 with a reportable injury rate of zero. Belle Plaine shares this award with Calibre Mining Corporation’s Valentine Mine in Newfoundland and Labrador and North American Construction Group’s Aurora Mine Site in Alberta, which also had reportable injury rates of zero.
This annual award is presented to mining operations/companies with a low to no reportable injury frequency rate. The award committee looks at a combination of lost time injuries and modified work injuries based on accepted Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claims. Belle Plaine has received the John T. Ryan award in 2017, 2022, and 2024.
“It is an honour to receive the John T. Ryan National Safety Trophy for the third time at Belle Plaine, but what matters most is the record behind the award and what that means,” said Lawrence Berthelet, vice-president of operations – Potash. “Our top priority is to ensure every person at a Mosaic facility returns home safely every day. The recognition highlights the level of engagement the Belle Plaine team has and the safety culture they’ve built.”
2023 also marked the site’s fifth-best potash production year since opening in 1964. Belle Plaine produces three-million tonnes of potash annually.
Practice makes perfect
Mosaic’s Belle Plaine site continues its quest to remain one of the safest mines in Canada. One aspect of preparedness comes with emergency response training.
In June, Mosaic’s Belle Plaine team placed first in the First Aid – Surface and the Surface Field Problem events at the 54th Annual Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition, organized by the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA). The skills competition tests Saskatchewan mining sites on various safety challenges, such as extinguishing fires, rescuing personnel, and managing medical emergencies. This friendly challenge between Saskatchewan mining teams adds an element of competition for all the sites to try and ensure their emergency response teams are trained and ready for any emergency event at their facilities.
“It’s a tradition for Mosaic’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) to participate in the SMA’s Mine Rescue competition,” Lawrence said. “These events simulate real emergencies that could occur. While we hope these scenarios never occur, our teams need to practice. Mosaic is proud of all our ERT members and their work year-round to keep us safe.”
