Del Fresco Pure announced Sept. 26 that it has been awarded the Silver Award in the OHS Culture category at the 2025 OHS Canada Honors. The OHS Canada Honors celebrate organizations across the country that demonstrate excellence in workplace health and safety. The OHS Culture category specifically recognizes companies that actively engage employees at all levels, foster open communication and integrate safety into the core values of the organization.
“In agriculture, cultural diversity and language barriers present unique challenges, making workers particularly vulnerable to health and safety risks,” says Amanda Sharman, food safety compliance and regulatory specialist at Del Fresco Pure. “While we have always followed Health and Safety Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, we recognized that we could do more to protect and empower our workforce.”
In 2024, Del Fresco Pure achieved certification by the Equitable Food Initiative for Social Responsibility. EFI provided guidance that led the company to enhance health and safety programs, establish a leadership team and create a platform where workers, supervisors and managers could openly discuss concerns and solutions. All leadership team members were trained in EFI standards and worked together to improve communication, address health and safety issues and engage the workforce in meaningful dialogue.
Key initiatives that the company says have strengthened its health and safety culture include:
- Providing training materials, notices and policies in multiple languages to ensure all workers can fully understand protocols.
- Implementing an anonymous reporting system for workers to voice concerns safely in their native languages.
- Using visual aids, posters and images to communicate safety information effectively to those who might struggle with reading.
- Ensuring leadership team members communicate directly with workers, translating as necessary, to foster understanding and trust.
These measures have significantly increased workforce engagement, says Del Fresco Pure, allowing employees to feel more comfortable raising concerns and actively participating in safety initiatives. The leadership team works in tandem with the health and safety team and the joint health and safety committee to continuously improve the company’s health and safety management system.
“We are honored to receive the Silver Award in OHS Culture,” says Carl Mastronardi, president and CEO of Del Fresco Pure. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and underscores our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and responsive workplace. By integrating social responsibility standards and prioritizing continuous improvement, we are strengthening the culture of safety across our operations.”
