Nutrien wins safety awards for tele-remote mining technology in Saskatchewan

The future of mining can be found across Nutrien’s six potash mines in Saskatchewan - and the proof is in the accolades.

Earlier this year, Nutrien’s Lanigan potash mine team was honored with the John T. Ryan Mine Safety Technology Award by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum in recognition of its successful implementation of tele-remote technology to improve the safety of underground potash mining.

“Receiving this national award is an impressive achievement for the Lanigan team," says Rob Jackson, General Manager, Lanigan. "These awards are highly sought after in Canada and the United States, and winning it shows that we are taking safety seriously and being innovative so that people go home safe every day. It demonstrates to our employees that they are part of the solution and tells the world about our commitment. This outstanding collaborative effort across site functions and the entire Potash network shows what we can accomplish when we work toward a common vision.”

Rob Jackson and Trevor Berg

Not only did Nutrien’s potash mines receive the John T. Ryan award, but they also achieved the National Safety Council (NSC)’s Green Cross for Safety Innovation Award in recognition of its transformative approach to potash mining. Tele-remote technology has exceeded the company’s expectations – not only is it having a positive impact on safety, but it’s also improving operators’ quality of life and wellbeing by creating better working conditions.

"The goal of our automation program has always been, and continues to be, safety," says Trevor Berg, Senior Vice President, Potash Operations. "It wasn't just about implementing technology but about our own employees collaborating and finding innovative solutions to help make our mines safer. Technology offers great solutions for this. By combining these elements, I believe this is where true success comes in."

In addition to receiving these two prestigious awards, we also reached a significant automation milestone this year. Since launching our automation program, we have mined 25 million ore tonnes using automation across our network of mines.

“Reaching this milestone feels incredible, and I’m really excited to see where we go from here,” says Michael Siourounis, Continuous Improvement Lead, Allan, who has worked with the Lanigan AMO team since the start of the project in 2017. “I’ve worked around the network of mines for the last 14 years, and this tele-remote and AMO project is one of the best collaborations I have been a part of at Nutrien. The progress we’ve made is remarkable, and I look forward to what’s next.”

To celebrate all of these accomplishments, our Lanigan mine hosted the Nutrien potash automation teams, including front line borer operators and trades people, and their leaders to recognize and celebrate their dedication and innovative approach to safety.

"I am immensely proud of our team's work and collaboration over the years," says Trevor. "Their willingness to embrace new technologies and continuously improve processes towards the goal of safety sets us apart. External recognition elevates our success and honors the countless hours of hard work put in by everyone."