Managers and workers at the Oakville, Ont. plant of Dana Canada Corp. were always proud of their nearly spotless health and safety record: one lost-time incident over a course of two years.

But when Steve Kogon, the company’s global safety system and training manager, first walked into Dana’s shop floor he immediately realized that the firm owed this amazing record perhaps more to luck than sound occupational health and safety policies. Dana Canada designs and builds axles, drive shafts, structural, sealing and thermal products.