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An initiative of the Pontiac is the regional winner of the Grands Prix in health and safety at work

An initiative of the Pontiac is the regional winner of the Grands Prix in health and safety at work

29 March 2018 à 12:00 am

Yesterday morning an invention created in our region was awarded a prize by the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) at the Coulonge Unit of the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) offices .

This innovation created by the La Coulonge Management Unit team, was born from the idea of shopkeeper Jean-François Beaulne, who passed away two years ago. His desire was to improve the safety of mechanised ramps, which he found to be unstable, which could be detrimental to employees who often had to travel in the forest with off-road vehicles. The new system mainly aims to prevent possible accidents when loading and unloading off road vehicles from vans.

The device is essentially composed of two centerpieces attached to a fixed bar anchored to the hatchback of the vans, which offers a solid and stable grip to the ramps, as well as light aluminum ramps with hooks that fit into the bar. This creates stability by preventing lateral or rearward movements on the ramps.

Named, Off-Road Vehicle Loading Ramp Stabilization System (Système de stabilisation des rampes de chargement des véhicules hors route), the winning project distinguished itself in the Innovation category and in the Public Institutions class of the Outaouais region.

A plaque was awarded posthumously to the man who came up with the system Mr. Beaulne. His wife Claire Taillefer accepted the award on behalf of her husband.

The head of the La Coulonge Management Unit’s office, Guillaume Godbout, is delighted by the recognition that the project brings to the MRC Pontiac.

The forestry technician, François Couture, who can be seen explaining the operation of the ramp in the projects instructional video, is satisfied with his experience of developing the ramp.

Martin Gingras, General Manager of the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks Southwest Sector, says that the creation by the Coulonge Management Unit has solved a problem that exists throughout the whole province.

CNESST also awarded PF Résolu – Sawmill Maniwaki in the Large Enterprises category. In addition to being honored in the Outaouais, the two winners are in the runnings at the National Grand Prix Health and Safety Gala, which will be held in Quebec City later this spring.

The video of the Off-Road Vehicle Loading Ramp Stabilization System is avblible here: https://www.grandsprixsst.com/remise-regionale/outaouais-2017/