Mine to Port Spring 2008 - Iron Ore Company of Canada

www.ironore.ca
Mine Rescue Team gets new gear p.4
Major housekeeping along the railway p.5
Meet our geologists p.6
Spring 2008
Alphonsus McGrath, Maintainer Operator Electrical 1, at -43 oC.
Winning picture of Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s photo contest; by Neil
Simmons – Maintainer Operator Electrical 1.
Mine-to-Port is published for the employees,
retirees and partners of IOC.
A member of the Rio Tinto Group
Message from the President
March 26, 2008
Dear Colleagues:
g, our products are in demand around the
year. The market continues to be very stron
great
a
be
to
up
ing
n
shap
is
2008
us,
d
With 2007 behin
people, we are recovering from our productio
. As a result of a tremendous effort by our
again
rise
the
on
ly,
are
s
ettab
Regr
price
rs.
like
holde
looks
it
world, and
expansion is approved by our share
ment reliability, and the first phase of our
relapse in
problems at the Mine, improving our equip
accomplishments - I’m talking about our
other
our
all
of and it is casting a shadow over
d
prou
be
ot
cann
we
that
area
one
is
there
safety.
ies that have left them off work.
ary alone, three of our people suffered injur
Febru
In
way.
our
lost
we’ve
,
2007
in
ever
anent impairment. We are doing
After our best safety year
a very serious hand injury resulting in a perm
ined
susta
ator
Oper
r
taine
Main
ed
rienc
In early March, an expe
her family.
everything that we can to support her and
vement
performance, it will be a very hollow achie
how impressive our production records and
r
matte
No
.
trend
this
se
rever
must
ly
We simp
seriously and permanently hurt.
if you and/or the people you work with are
definitive and
recognize risks before beginning. Next, take
to look at and think about your work and
the time
take
–
ds
hazar
ve
remo
We have the tools to work safely. ‘Take 5’
help,
get
line of fire, isolate and lock-out,
the
of
out
Stay
:
risks
those
ol
contr
or
specific actions to eliminate
uards are there to protect you.
ent. The standard procedures, rules and safeg
to do what is required to work without incid
ce for
ment of 5.1 million is our best performan
and breaking records. Total material move
bility
capa
full
at
s
back
come
Ore
Ore
ary
ary
Prim
Prim
in
see
It’s great to
winter. A big part of the recovery
and proof of what we can do, even during
ent
ovem
rail
impr
and
us
tize,
endo
pelle
trem
te,
a
is
entra
It
conc
ary.
Febru
ces by everyone to
cularly of our truck fleet. Strong performan
from improved equipment availability; parti
bode well for a record year in 2008.
and
ng
uragi
enco
very
are
this ore right through to our valued customers
more this year), and we have
We’ll continue hiring new people (200 or
A lot of things are happening around IOC.
experienced people. The asset
our
op
devel
and
as well as continuing to grow
to induct and train these new employees,
to grow and spread across the
ce Together (IPT) program will continue
management part of the Improving Performan
r opportunities to get involved and
, providing our people with more and bette
Company. The Lean initiative will also grow
peoples’ jobs and our performance
"quick changeover" have already improved
contribute. Specific tools, such as "5S" and
help us to achieve our goals and
with a strong focus on health and safety, will
in many areas. These important efforts, along
secure our future together.
in many years. A phase 1 expendiunce approval of our first expansion plans
anno
tly
recen
to
d
prou
and
ed
pleas
very
I was
is the ‘icing on the cake’ for 2008.
concentrate up to 22 million tonnes. This
make
to
us
allow
will
n
millio
$500
of
ture
te up to 25 million tonnes and pellets
on further expansion plans to push concentra
At the same time, we have people working
by this year or early next. Details of
we can get these last two phases under way
to 14.5 million tonnes. We are confident that
ort articles for you to see. The rest is up
covered in more detail in other Mine-to-P
these plans are on our website and will be
ive projects.
take on the challenge of delivering these mass
to our Expansion Projects team as they now
to all of us. We need to regain our
and success with these projects is important
We set out on a path to “secure our future”
with everyone’s support and focus,
and
that we could operate safely in 2007
d
prove
We
ies.
injur
nt
preve
and
safety
focus on
do it!
we can make the rest of 2008 safer – let’s
2 Spring 2008
March 11, 2008
Expansion News
spring is bringing
more than expected!
The boom
is building
T
erence F. Bowles, IOC President
and CEO, has just announced an
investment of $500 million as
the first phase of a three year plan. The
goal is to increase annual production
of iron ore concentrate from 18 million
tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 22 Mtpa.
This investment is part of IOC’s expansion program to increase production
capacity 50% by 2011.
These improvements have been long in
the works and the project is now in
motion. Not since opening the facility
in 1962 has there been such excitement.
“The expansion will include significant
benefits for the local community and the
entire region through new jobs, tax benefits,
growth and development of local commerce,” said Terence F. Bowles. “It secures the long-term future of our
operations and improves the livelihoods
of those around us. IOC has been the
main driver of the Labrador West economy for more than 50 years, and this expansion program ensures that a new
generation of families in the region can
be confident that there will be rewarding
careers for years to come.”
The basics
New Crusher
IOC’s expansion is the latest example
of Rio Tinto supporting investments
in Canada.
As most of you know, the first step of the
expansion will increase annual concentrate production from the current capacity
of 18.4 Mtpa to 22 Mtpa.
Studies are presently underway to determine the feasibility of a further increase to 25 Mtpa.
Expansion work will commence immediately at the mining and processing facilities in Labrador West with an
increased capacity on our 418-kilometre railway to our port facilities in SeptÎles.
In addition to increasing concentrate
production, the expansion will tackle
operating bottlenecks and improving
20 metres
high
2 metres
8 metres wide
winter performance. The investment
includes: the purchase of new mining
equipment, the installation of a new
crusher in the Mine, Autogenous
Grinding mill in the Concentrator,
and a six-kilometre overland conveyor
to link them together. New locomotives
and rail cars will be purchased to increase railway capacity.
Regional employment is expected to
increase and we need you to be ready.
We count on our current employees to
lead the way for our new workers, who
will be adjusting to the rhythm of
working and living in Labrador West.
Projected six-kilometre overland conveyor
Securing
Our Future
Together
www.ironore.ca
A member of the Rio Tinto Group
March 11, 2008
Our communities
Our strong workforce is the largest in the Newfoundland and Labrador industrial sector
and will grow by approximately 200 as a result of expansion.
Construction jobs are expected to peak at approximately 250 over the next three years. In
addition to economic benefits from growth in tax revenues and local commerce, Labrador
West will see an increase in population within the area and growth in the community.
Community consultations have been ongoing to ensure that this expansion proceeds in
the best interest of both the residents and IOC. Since we all share a mutual interest in our
community and the land around us, we have conducted various studies, which outline measures that will ensure both the
community and the environment are protected. The strides we continue to make in the treatment of our tailings are just
one example of our commitment.
Labrador City
In conjunction to the studies, we strictly adhere to our Heath, Safety and Environment (HSE) Policy, which helps to assess our
impact on ecosystems, calculate future risks, plan management systems to diminish our impact, create challenging objectives,
and measure our performance.
In Sept-Îles, this expansion program means that rail and port employment will grow by around 40.
We take pride in being an efficient and successful business and minimize health, safety and environmental impacts, and contribute
positively to this community.
A brighter future
The IOC team is one of the industry’s best. They are a large
part of the reason why our iron ore is in demand around the
world, and why we have received this opportunity. Every year,
our employees are united and work together to find new ways
to increase safety, performance and innovation, and through
this winning attitude we all benefit.
stronger teamwork for this expansion to be truly successful.
We are committed to our team, committed to pairing the right
people with advanced technology, and we know our workforce is up for this challenge.
We are looking for people who share our drive for continuous
improvement and wish to secure their own place in IOC’s future.
“We approach the dawning of a new era for
our workforce, our communities, our mine
and our facilities.”
With a larger mandate we will be in need of new ideas, improved and greater cost controls, fierce work ethics, and even
Communication is the key
Throughout the coming days, weeks and months, we will see
amazing changes to our facilities, personnel, and our
community. As employees, you will continue to receive
new information and updates through memos, emails
and newsletters, so keep a lookout.
Keep an eye out for future developments!
Securing
Our Future
Together
www.ironore.ca
A member of the Rio Tinto Group
Health and Safety
Thumbs up for IOC
The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) include a visit
to IOC during their first trip to Labrador.
After a presentation on an overview of IOC (including: recent
safety highlights, health and wellness initiatives, and objectives
for the future), WHSCC members were taken on a tour of the
Mine and Concentrator where they could get a real feel for
the operations. Several employees assisted with the tour
including: Tim Butler, Vice President - Human Resources and
Organizational Effectiveness; Brian Penney, General Manager Product Manufacturing; and various members of the HSE team.
pared to the average in Newfoundland and Labrador, as we have
approximately 2,400 workers on-site, including contractors.
IOC has worked diligently to bring the occupational illnesses
numbers down - particularly those related to dust - and continues to work towards zero LTIs and All Injury Frequency Rates.
“It was great having the WHSCC Board visiting our operations,
as this gives them a better understanding of the sheer size, as
well as the complexity of our processes. And they acknowledged
our efforts in safety and health,” says Tim Butler.
Overall feedback was positive. President of USW Local 5795 and
WHSCC Board member George Kean mentioned, “I feel that they
left with a much better appreciation for IOC and the type of work
we all perform.”
Although IOC has experienced seven Lost Time Injuries (LTI)
and 32 injuries (including medical treatments) in 2007, the
WHSCC came to understand that the rate is actually low com-
Members of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation
Commission and IOC representatives.
Pursuing excellence in health and safety
Demonstrating our values
October 11, 2007, Wayne McCarthy, Senior Advisor –
Electrical, and Jerome Rideout, Planner, noticed a safety
concern. There were two cranes near the Mill
13 screen floor in the Concentrator: Lowering one
crane block created the potential for the block, load,
or cable to make contact with the live electrical bus that
supplies power to the crane below. This hazard could
have easily resulted in a serious electrical arc flash
incident. Both employees took immediate steps to
mitigate the hazard by putting up signs, and planning
permanent corrective actions. Their safety awareness
and prompt follow-up measures exemplify our values.
Wayne McCarthy, Senior Advisor - Electrical; Perry Canning, Senior
Advisor - Electrical; Jerome Rideout, Planner; and Bob Gagné,
Superintendent – Concentrator Maintenance.
Great job!
Spring 2008
3
Health and Safety
Mine Rescue Team gets new gear
In November 2007, IOC received the BG-4 - a four-hour closed circuit breathing
apparatus. Used throughout the world by underground rescuers, the BG-4 is at the
disposal of the newly formed Mine Rescue Team (MRT), and the Emergency and
Security Service department.
Michael Tost, General Manager – Health,
Safety and Environment; Rick Blundon,
Superintendent – Safety; Al Johnston,
Security Chief; and instructor Robert
Bauer, presented the 31 MRT members
with a certification upon completion of
an intensive three-month underground
training program.
The Emergency MRT received basic
underground mine rescue training in
January 2008, which focused on:
Mine Rescue Team members.
• Objectives of mine rescue and
recovery work;
• An introduction to the BG-4 breathing
apparatus.
• Properties of air and gases that may be
encountered in mines under abnormal
circumstances;
• Gas detection methods;
• Protection methods for persons
traveling in toxic gas contaminated
atmospheres;
Team members participated in a 60minute walk in and around Loading
Pocket #4 wearing the BG-4. This
allowed members to build confidence
in how the unit works and operates
under normal conditions.
Before use check of the BG-4 breathing
apparatus.
Fire doused by speedy response
Marshall Industries Ltd. employee Tom Gardiner was returning
from his break on the evening of November 25th when he noticed
that Conveyor P-6a was on fire. Tom reacted quickly. He phoned
the General Foreman who notified the Pellet Plant Control Room
of the situation. They dispatched the attendant for the machine
without delay. In the meantime, Tom took immediate action: He
proceeded to the burning P-6a, hauled out the fire hose, and
extinguished the fire. Responses like Tom’s show us all that
constant vigilance, when it comes to safety and awareness, is the
key to a secure workplace.
Well done Tom!
4 Spring 2008
Paul Moss, Operations Manager – Marshall Industries Ltd.;
Brian Mercer, IOC Chief Engineer - Primary Ore Projects;
Tom Gardiner, Welder - Marshall Industries Ltd.; and Pascal
Cote-Boothe, Safety Manager - Marshall Industries Ltd.
Environment
Major housekeeping along the railway
While effective Residual Hazardous Materials (RHM) management has been in place
for quite some time at the Sept-Îles and Labrador City facilities, improvements were
required to provide for the adequate management of these materials at the camps
and along the railway.
Managing hazardous materials
In collaboration with railway personnel, an RHM management
program was recently implemented. The infrastructures
required for safe storage and the logistics needed to establish
and maintain effective RHM management, were put in place to
cover all railway operations. These materials are now adequately
managed at all three camps and within the mobile teams
involved in work along the railway.
Marine containers were installed and set up to make it possible to
separate and safely store the various types of RHM at the camps.
Everything is in place to ensure that waste oils, absorbents and
contaminated containers, fluorescents, used oil filters, aerosol
containers, batteries, and other residual materials are adequately
managed until transported to Sept-Îles for final disposal.
The outdoor storage of barrels and other containers near reservoirs and buildings, right on the ground without containment, is
now a thing of the past!
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
Within the mobile teams, boxcars are used for storage during
Maintenance of Way work. One team already has its RHM car,
while a second car is currently being outfitted and will be ready
before the seasonal work begins.
The implementation of this initiative brings the operations of the
Product Delivery division into full compliance with the Rio Tinto
Environment Standard E7 – Waste Management.
Meeting Rio Tinto standards
Throughout its daily operations, IOC must ensure that its
hazardous materials (HM) are safely and responsibly controlled
to minimize, if not eliminate, the risks they may represent in
terms of health, safety, and the environment.
As far as environmental hazards are concerned, the Rio Tinto
Standard E5 – Hazardous Materials and Contamination Control
– requires, among other things, that chemicals be stored in a
way that prevents the containment of leaks and/or spills. Over
the past few months, a great deal of effort has been made to
identify the needs of the various sectors in terms of HM storage.
Numerous retention ponds have been installed underneath
barrels, tubs, five-gallon containers, and etcetera.
Chemicals are now stored in a safe way all across the Company.
Spring 2008
5
Primary Ore
Meet our geologists
What exactly do IOC geologists? Mine-to-Port interviewed members of our Geology
team to find out.
Question- What qualifications are
needed for this job?
Answer- A four-year undergraduate
degree in Geology or Geological
Engineering from a recognized university.
Q- What is a typical day like?
A- • Supervising diamond drilling
projects for resource assessment
program (RAP) or in-pit
programs;
• Logging diamond drill core;
• Checking muckpile faces and
installation of grade control
signage;
• Blast hole mapping and sampling;
• Geotechnical investigations
involving the monitoring of pit
wall, waste dump, and stockpile
stability;
• Hydrological investigations
and monitoring;
IOC Geology team: Luke Marshall, Peter Leriche, Mark Blake, Mike Muggridge, Okiemute
Akpughe, and Safdar Sultan. Missing from photo: Tim Leriche.
Q- What is the best part of your job?
A- We are responsible for discovering
and delineating ore reserves that will
make sure that IOC and the Town of
Labrador City will remain healthy for
decades to come.
Our work is very diversified with a
combination of fieldwork (information
collection, observations), and data
processing.
Okiemute Akpughe doing geological core
logging.
• Processing and interpretation of
analytical and metallurgical data;
• Ore reserve calculations and
geological modelling.
Q- What challenges do you face?
A- We must ensure the continued safety
of employees and contractors through
enforcement of safety standards, and
through geotechnical monitoring
and investigations.
We also have to reconcile predicted
grades of material mined in pit versus
the actual grades of material being
processed in Product Manufacturing.
Another big challenge we face is to
maintain a 25+ year reserve base.
6 Spring 2008
THE GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT INCLUDES
SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE:
Resource assessment program
Exploration and delineation of new
ore bodies to increase reserve base
Grade control
Control of ore grades being mined
and shipped to Product Manufacturing
Geotechnical
Monitoring and testing of pit walls,
underground, waste dumps, and
stockpiles to ensure stability
Ore characterization and
geological modeling
Studies to better understand the
character of the ore bodies and
creation of a 3D block model
Hydrological
Testing of the levels and influx of water
to determine future dewatering needs
Product Manufacturing
Crusher's platform
to bring safety and savings
Improvements continue on in full force at IOC. The recent acquisition of the Crusher
platform is no exception.
With the Crusher Maintenance team leading
the way and receiving welcomed support
from the Engineering team, the Crusher
pit service platform (CR#1 and CR#2)
was designed and fabricated. The entire
project, from conception to first usage,
took approximately four months.
The benefits
This new platform enhances safety in
both Crusher pits during required
maintenance activities, which include:
servicing rock breakers, splitter repairs,
and pit wall repairs. Previously, the pit
had to be filled with ore to complete
these maintenance tasks: So there was
a high potential risk of slips, trips, and
falls related to working on the uneven
surfaces.
The platform considerably reduced the
risk of future injuries and also eliminates
potential production downtime associated with filling the pit on scheduled
service days.
Upcoming savings
Crusher downtime results in approximately $40,000 per hour of lost
opportunity. Improved maintenance
safety and proficiencies mean that
planned maintenance can occur within
scheduled times. Hence, it’s going to
result in savings for IOC.
On the path of continuous improvement,
the future looks bright. Way to go team!
Before placing our new platform: a
crusher into position for maintenance
activities.
Using our new work platform:
Maintenance is safer and more efficient.
NOTE - NOTE - NOTE
Please note that the Expansion Projects
Division has a new address:
1080 Beaver Hall Hill • 20th Floor
Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1S8
Tel: 514 285-2011 • Fax: 514 868-0529
Spring 2008
7
Product Delivery
Health, safety and
environment in the spotlight
Health, Safety and Environment Week, which took place in Sept-Îles from December
4-6, 2007, featured a new and successful format. An average of 200 employees per day
visited the booths and attended information sessions.
The booths
This year’s format devoted one day to each of the week’s three
main themes - health, safety, and environment. Employees were
able to visit the booths of various equipment suppliers. Companies
such as SPI and Acklands took advantage of this opportunity to
present their new products and provide tips on how to use them
effectively. Véolia, Golder, the Corporation de protection de
l'environnement de Sept-Îles, and the Sept-Rivières RCM were
just a few of the other presenters that hosted booths to make
visitors more aware of various environmental issues.
The talks
Once again, IOC employees enjoyed the various speakers that
participated and shared their experiences. Some of the presenters
included:
• Johanne Guillemette, Dietitian - who talked about foods that
can prevent cancer;
• Dr. Diane Boivin, Director of the Douglas Mental Health
University Institute – who spoke on the topic of sleep management (a valuable sessions to those employees who work
variable shifts);
• Brigitte Bélanger discussed composting;
• Hugues Maltais, Consultant - spoke about the issue of the X, Y,
and baby-boomer generation shock.
Johanne Guillemette, Dietician, during her session.
New booth, new building
To mark 25 years of collaboration between IOC and Centraide, a
new booth was set-up where employees were able to register with
Centraide and make donations on-site.
HSE week was also the perfect time to inaugurate the new fire
station of the IOC emergency brigade. Members from IOC’s management team, the City of Sept-Îles, and the IOC brigade, attended
the official inauguration.
Congratulations to the members of the organizing committee,
who made this event a success!
IOC Fire brigade: Pierre Blackburn, Gilles Lévesque, Patrick Gagnon (Ville de Sept-Îles), Bernard Bourque, Roger Levésque, Patrick Gwilliam,
Louis Gravel, Denis Jutras (directeur Service des Incendies Ville de Sept-Îles), Stéphane Houde, Bruno Yockell, and Jean-Guy Lévesque.
8 Spring 2008
Product Delivery
In-house inventors
In partnership with General Electric, IOC and QNS&L created the initial prototype for
what is called the Proximity Detection Device (PDD) - a device that allows an single
operator to drive the train while still meeting Transport Canada standards.
The main functions of the device are to alert
the operator when the train is approaching
another vehicle and to apply the engine
braking system if the operator fails to
respond to an alarm in the event of a
possible collision. “It is important to point
out that the proximity sensor is not an
anti-collision device. But it does help the
driver spot other vehicles on the railway,”
indicates Mario Boudreau, Senior
Engineer - Electrical.
During the initial years, various kinds of
snags were encountered - malfunctions,
numerous delays and, on top of all this,
a main component of the GE device was
discontinued. This is how the option of
producing an “in-house design” arose, and
GE chose to withdraw from the project.
It is Mario Boudreau and Geneau Gagnon,
Senior Analyst - IT; who were asked to come
up with a design for a new device to replace
the now obsolete proximity sensor. The
challenges were to develop a new product
while gradually replacing the existing fleet,
complying with Transport Canada standards,
and maintaining railway operations.
The first hurdle was to design a transitional
device, using the same communications
protocols as the GE model, while complying
with the Transport Canada recommendations. The first models of the QNS&L version
(version 2) of the proximity sensor were
produced in 2005. Relying on different
technology than the GE device and respecting the initial characteristics at a third of
the cost, these “in-house” models also
provided a greater measure of control.
Version 2 will allow us to migrate to version 3, which will permanently replace GE
version 1. Several devices still have to be
replaced, but we expect to be able to complete the migration process and operate the
features of version 3 in 2008.
This groundbreaking product has a very
promising future in the industry. Its versatility makes it very interesting for other
Canadian and international mining companies. The Company’s confidence in the
expertise of its employees has once again
allowed IOC to remain in the forefront of
an increasingly competitive industry.
Mario Boudreau, Senior Engineer - Electrical ;
Dany Wright, Maintainer Operator Electrical
2; and Geneau Gagnon, Senior Analyst - IT.
The alarm levels and actions
triggered by the system are
as follows:
SATELLITE
ALARM 1
8 miles from another piece of
equipment
Audible and visual warning signal.
ALARM 2
5 miles from another piece
of equipment
Audible and visual warning signal
followed by response from operator.
TRAIN
TRAIN
Each of the vehicles on the railway emits a
radio signal indicating its precise position
via an integrated GPS. All the vehicles also
communicate with each other so they can
pinpoint the locations of all other vehicles
on the line. Communication towers
installed along the 418 kilometre railway
allow all of the various pieces of equipment
to be viewed and make it possible to
remotely control several functions of the
locomotives from Sept-Îles or any other
location.
ALARM 3
3 miles from another piece of
equipment
Audible and visual warning signal
followed by two distinct responses
from operator.
BRAKING
If the system does not receive
a response to an alarm
(for locomotives only).
Spring 2008
9
Engineering
Inauguration of the new security
building in Sept-Îles
Initiated in September 2007, construction of the new main gatehouse at our Sept-Îles
location is almost completed.
Renovation or demolition?
The building that formerly served as the
gatehouse was outdated and would have
had to be completely renovated to meet
the requirements of the International Ship
and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
There were two possible solutions:
renovate or reconstruct. The cost analysis
determined that the construction of a new
building was the best option and would
even allow IOC to obtain a Transport
Canada grant covering a portion of costs
associated with the installation of:
surveillance cameras, a new lighting
system in monitored areas, and new
fencing to enclose the site perimeter.
New and improved
The new gatehouse is much larger and
more accommodating than the old one.
Some of the changes include:
• Housing the Health and Safety
department offices. Since the
The new building.
Environment department has moved
into the Main Warehouse, it is
now possible to demolish the
old Health, Safety and Environment
building;
• A crisis room (equipped with computers, monitors, and radios) has been
set up inside the gatehouse for
managing emergencies;
Outdoor electronic sign.
• A large electronic screen has been
installed in front of the building to
display IOC news, which will provide
information on: safety, production
numbers, as well as greetings to our
visitors.
A similar screen has also been installed
at the entrance to our facilities in
Labrador City.
During construction of the new building.
10 Spring 2008
External Relations
Carrying the family torch
to the 2010 Olympics
2010 will be a big year for Canada as it
hosts the Olympic Winter Games in
Vancouver. IOC’s own Edward (Ed) Krats,
Senior Advisor - Continuous Improvement,
will attend the event as an official Course
Marshal for various skiing events.
Things got underway for Ed early in March
2008, when the Canadian National
Championships were in Callaghan Valley,
Whistler, served as a practice run in
preparation for the World Cup in 2009.
Skiers from around the world will have the
chance to experience the course firsthand
before the Olympics.
The Nationals and World Cup also serve
as training for the officials. Ed has had his
share of practice though - he’s been a
volunteer official for more than 20 years,
overseeing various sporting events both
nationally and internationally.
“This will certainly be a special moment,”
says Ed. “Skiing has always been a big part
of my family’s life.”
Karl Eric Krats, Ed’s father, was an official
for cross country skiing at the Calgary
Olympics in 1988. He also worked in the
Process Engineering Department at IOC’s
Concentrator for 35 years before his
retirement 12 years ago. Sadly, Karl Krats
passed away last year, but his son still
carries the family torch high.
“When I was young, I raced in national
competitions while my father was an
official,” mentions Ed. “It is an honour for
me to be asked to officiate at the Olympics,
but to follow in my father’s footsteps
makes the whole thing that much more
special.”
Ed Krats, Senior Advisor - Continuous
Improvement.
Ed Krats’ father, Karl Krats.
IOC became a major partner of the
Tournoi Fer-O Optimiste
From January 24-27, 2008, over 90 novice-to-junior-level
hockey teams competed at the Tournoi Fer-O Optimiste in
Sept-Îles.
This year marked the 31st anniversary of the Tournoi Fer-O,
as well as the 31st consecutive year that IOC has been
involved with the tournament. Louis Gravel, General
Manager - Product Delivery, served as Honorary Chairman
of the event. It should be noted that the Fer-O is one of the
largest multi-level tournaments in Quebec.
“The Iron Ore Company of Canada has been a Tournoi Fer-O
partner from the very beginning. This year, we are extending
our commitment a little further by signing on as a major
partner until 2010. We know that popular sports events like
this one contribute greatly to the development of our young
people, who represent our future generation of employees,”
indicated Louis Gravel.
Ghislain Lévesque, Sept-Îles’ Mayor;
Michel Laforest, Fer-O Tournament’s President; and Louis Gravel,
Honorary Chairman.
This year, the Company’s sponsorship made it possible to
purchase a commemorative gift for each of the players. All
of the participants in the tournament received a bath towel
and a skate mat in the IOC colours.
Spring 2008
11
Welcome to our new colleagues
BUILDING
MAINTENANCE
Bernard Tremblay
Maintainer Operator
Electrical 1
MAINTENANCE OF WAY
Renaud Fortin
Team Leader
MM GARAGE
Joseph Power
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Andrew Roberts
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
CONCENTRATOR
Trevor Drover
Operator Maintainer
Darrell Kirk Rumbolt
Operator Maintainer
Danny Leroux
Operator Maintainer
ENGINEERING
Geoffrey Taylor
Engineer-in-Training
FEED PREPARATION
Tim Myles
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
GRINDING
Terrence Drover
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
LOADOUT & FLUXYARD
Sharafat Khan
Technical Advisor
Brent Compton
Operator Maintainer
Kresho Galovich
Manager
John Crant
Operator Maintainer
PROCESS
ENGINEERING
Christopher Gates
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Roderick Diamond
Operator Maintainer
Matthew Lindsay
Engineer-in-Training
Metallurgical
Todd Frost
Operator Maintainer
Alexander Greene
Operator Maintainer
Amanda Ford
Administrative Assistant
Derek Green
Operator Maintainer
Darren Durdle
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Conrad Tulk
Process Technologist
Troy Wilkie
Engineer-in-Training
Metallurgical
PROCESS
MAINTENANCE
Michael Goosney
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
Christopher Bellinger
Chief Mining Engineer
TAILINGS
Johnny Coffey
Planner
TRAFFIC &
TRANSPORT
Vincent Bordeleau
Engineman Basic
Stéphane Bouchard
Engineman Basic
Kimberley Hammond
Operator Maintainer
Jean-Sébastien Rioux
Engineman Basic
Cory Batson
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Raymond Hillier
Operator Maintainer
Dany Turbis
Engineman Basic
ORE CAR SHOP
Michael Hunt
Operator Maintainer
Peter Higdon (CR)
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
In memoriam
Jeremy Letto
Operator Maintainer
We extend our deepest
sympathy to the families of
PELLET PLANT
Kelly McLean
Operator Maintainer
Raymond Paré passed away January 6, 2006
Antonio Mattiucci passed away November 19, 2007
Dennis Coffey passed away November 25, 2007
Jean-Paul Marquis passed away November 26, 2007
Maurice Kennedy passed away December 9, 2007
Edgar Soper passed away December 9, 2007
Victor Boersma passed away December 11, 2007
Gilles Madore passed away December 15, 2007
Roger Samson passed away December 21, 2007
Donald Abbott passed away December 22, 2007
Thomas Abbott passed away December 23, 2007
Laurent Gauthier passed away December 26, 2007
Kevin Taylor passed away December 26, 2007
Yvon Lemelin passed away December 27, 2007
Jeannot Michaud passed away January 1, 2008
Clément Blais passed away January 7, 2008
Howard Baker passed away January 11, 2008
Reginald Ringe passed away January 20, 2008
Harvey Chafe passed away February 3, 2008
HUMAN
RESOURCES
Vance Pike
Operator Maintainer
Meghan Saville
Junior Administrator
PRIMARY ORE
PRODUCTION
MAG PLANT &
LOADOUT
Jeremy Adams
Operator Maintainer
Shawn Gascon
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Curtis Antle
Operator Maintainer
Deborah Holm
Administrative Assistant
PRODUCT
MANUFACTURING
Darlene Flynn
Operator Maintainer
Irving Ward
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Kristin Howell
Operator Maintainer
MAINTENANCE AND
ENGINEERING
PRIMARY ORE
SERVICES
Liza-Rae Dumaresque
Operator Maintainer
Marcel Parsons
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Drew Paul
Operator Maintainer
Lee Tulk
Maintainer Operator
Mechanical 2
Calvin Carroll
Operator Maintainer
Scott Mercer
Operator Maintainer
Timothy Organ
Operator Maintainer
Jason Paul
Operator Maintainer
Brian Shears
Operator Maintainer
Corina Temple
Operator Maintainer
Samuel Beck
Operator Maintainer
Jeremy Warford
Operator Maintainer
Jeremy Bellows
Operator Maintainer
Ambrose Waterman
Operator Maintainer
Frederick Buffett
Operator Maintainer
The Team:
Perry Canning, Product Manufacturing, perry.canning@ironore.ca
Nicolas Roussy, Comm. & Ext. Relations, nicolas.roussy@ironore.ca
Darlene Collins, Product Manufacturing, darlene.collins@ironore.ca
Trina Thompson, Communications, trina.thompson@ironore.ca
Nancy Gagnon, Continuous Improvement, nancy.gagnon@ironore.ca
Shelagh Thomson, Primary Ore, shelagh.thomson@ironore.ca
Barry Hillier, Engineering, barry.hillier@ironore.ca
Jacqui Winter, External Relations, jacqui.winter@ironore.ca
Sean Hiscock, Health and Safety, sean.hiscock@ironore.ca
Connie Lane, Primary Ore, connie.lane@ironore.ca
Hughes Lapierre, Terminal, hughes.lapierre@ironore.ca
Patrick Lauzière, Sust. Dev. & Environ, patrick.lauziere@ironore.ca
Randy Philpott, Central Services, randy.philpott@ironore.ca
Natalie Rouleau, Comm. & Ext. Relations, natalie.rouleau@ironore.ca
Produced by the Communications Department
www.ironore.ca • natalie.rouleau@ironore.ca
Tel.: (418) 968-7400 #7655 / Editing: Map Design
Publications Mail:
Account # 1006379 • Agreement # 40005861
Iron Ore Company of Canada, 1 Retty Street,
Sept-Iles (Quebec) G4R 3C7