The announcement comes amid increased scrutiny of steelmakers' safety and environmental records.
Another woman has shattered the glass ceiling at Algoma Steel.
The company announced that Erin Oliver, formerly of Sortite, has been appointed to the newly created role of vice president of health and safety.
Oliver will report to CEO Michael Garcia and will be part of the steelmaker's senior leadership team.
Her job will be high-profile and demanding.
News of Oliver's appointment comes as Algoma has recently come under intense scrutiny over its safety and environmental record.
In January, a major utility pipe collapse occurred at Algoma's coking facility, with repair costs estimated at up to $30 million.
In February, a horrific explosion occurred at the North Foundry at Algoma's blast furnace facility, sending five employees to hospital.
In April, heavy rain came into contact with molten slag, causing a roaring sound that could be heard as far away as Hayden and Hilton Beach, injuring an Algoma Steel employee.
But we have a new safety officer at the steel mill.
Erin Oliver is past president of the Ontario Prevention Council, a legislative body that advises Ontario's Ministry of Labour on health and safety issues.
From January 2016 to 2018, she taught Forensic Kinesiology at the University of Guelph-Humber.
“The course taught exercise physiologists to evaluate and reconstruct how human movement influences accidents in order to understand and prevent future accidents,” Oliver said on his LinkedIn page.
“A new chapter is beginning,” she says.
“A safe and healthy life starts at home, and I'm back in the Sault as a member of Algoma Steel's health and safety team.”
“Erin is a native of Sault Ste. Marie and is a seasoned health and safety professional with more than 25 years of experience and a proven track record of improving safety culture in a variety of sectors, including construction, healthcare, forestry and manufacturing,” the company said in a news release.
“When I was working for a mechanical and electrical construction company across Canada, [Modern Niagara Group]”She has contributed to significant improvements in health and safety standards and has received multiple awards in recognition of her leadership in safety excellence,” the statement said.
“I am excited to return to Sault Ste. Marie and join a company that deeply cares about its employees and recognizes the need to continually invest, learn and enhance safety measures,” Oliver said.
“I look forward to working with the existing health and safety team to build on the great work already underway.”
“We are pleased to welcome Erin to the executive team at this critical time in Algoma's transformation to become the North American leader in green steel,” Garcia said.
“Erin has extensive experience and expertise in building a strong safety-first culture. Her appointment to our leadership team in this new role speaks to our continued commitment and investment in safety, making it our number one priority in everything we do.”
In 2021, Algoma Steel was preparing to start as a public company without a single woman on its board of directors or among its executive officers.
After SueToday exclusively reported that the last company in the Standard & Poor's 500 with an all-male board added a female director two months ago, Algoma quickly changed its tune and the company now has three female directors and two female vice presidents.
Before coming to Sault Ste. Marie, Garcia was known for her support of gender and racial diversity in leadership, frequently taking to social media to celebrate women and people of color appointed to corporate boards and executive positions.
