DuroVac joins Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Excellence Program

Industrial vacuum manufacturer DuroVac, a Northwind Air Systems company, recently announced it is participating in the Health and Safety Excellence Program from Ontario, Canada’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

The year-long worker safety initiative is designed to help organizations build stronger health and safety practices with professional support, a structured support framework, and practical tools. The program introduces new safety topics, helps ensure consistent safety practices as organizations grow, and offers rebates to participants.

DuroVac said it is voluntarily taking part in the WSIB Excellence Program as part of the company’s commitment to protecting its employees with the same care and discipline they bring to every system they design.

Strengthening company-wide safety culture

Through the WSIB Excellence Program, DuroVac is implementing safety initiatives and resources that support safety awareness across the company, including roles that work off-site or from home.

By extending these initiatives to remote employees, DuroVac helps strengthen a company-wide safety culture that supports every team member, regardless of their work environment.

“We want employees to feel good coming into a safe working environment,” said Suren Suraj, DuroVac project and operations coordinator. “This program gives us the right structure, the right support, and a clear path to keep improving.”

DuroVac said its decision to participate in the Excellence Program creates an opportunity to go beyond the minimum requirements and invest early in quality safety education, helping keep training and expectations clear as the company continues to grow and add more team members.

New tools and programs across the whole company

Alongside its participation in the program, DuroVac has implemented several safety-focused updates and training initiatives including:

• A lockout/tagout procedure
• A new paint booth to protect against hazardous paint fumes
• A mobile eyewash station to make responding to ocular safety incidents easier
• Job hazard training tailored by team
• Company-wide training sessions.

“When you’re growing, [that’s the] right time to step back and build things properly,” Suraj added. “This program helps us introduce important safety topics in a clear, organized way, and gives our teams access to people and tools that make it easier to do things the right way from the beginning.”

Support for new safety demands as DuroVac grows

Participation in the program also connects DuroVac with a broader network of safety professionals and support services, giving the company access to external expertise while maintaining hands-on involvement internally.

The program is designed to evolve year after year, helping organizations to build upon progress by reinforcing operational safety practices over time.

“[To bring these programs to life] we evaluate maintenance, we evaluate right fit, and we make sure all our workers are safe.” said Maude Lapointe-Rioux, DuroVac chief operating officer. “This is a great achievement in terms of health and safety initiatives, and we have many more initiatives we want to bring.”