NASCO Win AEU Longshoreman Safety Award

The North America Stevedoring Company (NASCO) division (Chicago) of Quebec Stevedoring says it has received a coveted award under the American Equity Underwriters Inc. (AEU) Safety Award Program.

Awarded in recognition of the best performing companies in the area of health and safety among AEU's 500 members nationwide, NASCO won in the category of companies with under 100 employees. Winners in each category are determined by the ratio of the number and severity of accidents per hours worked for each calendar year. AEU is an expert in waterfront exposures and is one of the biggest companies specializing in risk insurance for longshoremen and harbour workers in the United States.

Rudy Becerra, NASCO Safety and Compliance Manager, observes, "At NASCO, the health and safety of our workers comes first. We work closely with all our teams to provide the safest possible work environment. Protecting our longshoremen and implementing solutions recommended by both internal or external auditors is a corporate value that is endorsed at the highest levels."

Because of the high levels of risk and complex nature of port operations, these call for an experienced, well-trained workforce that can comply with the measures in place for the safe handling of all cargo. "NASCO's health and safety record is an inspiration for all of us," says Denis C. Fournier, Health and Safety Manager at Quebec Stevedoring.

The efforts in prevention and employee training, the worker skills developed and the policies implemented by NASCO over the past six years are the key to their success today."

Chicago-based North America Stevedoring Company (NASCO) was founded in 2006 and acquired by Quebec Stevedoring in 2007, giving it the opportunity to cover 3,000 km of terminals from Eastern Canada to the American heartland.

About Quebec Stevedoring
Quebec Stevedoring handles over 20 million tonnes of general and dry bulk cargo through its network of port facilities annually. These facilities are strategically built along the St. Lawrence Seaway up to the Great Lakes and are located in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Chicago, Illinois. Every year, the company's versatile network accommodates more than 1,000 inbound or outbound vessels from all corners of the world.