February 2023
Valliant Containerboard Mill
SAFETY FLASH
SAFETY FLASH ANNOUNCEMENT:
CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU Ladies!
Pictured below is Kayla Young & Christine Loup, with their Supervisor Flecia Strain
Tri-Lakes Services employees, Kayla Young & Christine Loup, were walking past the tank farm when they noticed a smoldering fire located at the #1 OCC dump chest agitator. They immediately took action and notified the OCC Operators, who were able to extinguish the fire with a water hose. There was stock build up inside the guard and around the belts, causing the smoldering fire. Belts have now been replaced, the stock build up has been removed and the packing has been pulled and tightened!
Date of Incident: January 25, 2023
Type of Incident: Near Miss
Be sure to congratulate Kayla & Christine on the wonderful job they did!
How to be more productive at work… 
Think Productively
It is human nature to be negative every so often. However, if your outlook is positive, it is more likely that positive events will occur in your life. Think about what you have accomplished and what you hope to accomplish in the future.
Learn an Instrument
Learning how to play an instrument such as the flute or guitar engages both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. In fact, playing an instrument is like a full-body work-out, but for the brain — it improves your memory, attention to detail, listening skills, motor skills, creativity and concentration.
Practice Mental Math
Mentally creating a budget or planning for a deadline is a great way to strengthen your critical thinking skills. Like playing an instrument, doing math in your head also involves several areas of the brain.
Seek New Experiences
The brain develops when you try something new or out of the ordinary. Try eating something you would not typically eat for lunch or take alternate routes to work in the mornings. Eventually, you will feel more comfortable with new experiences.
Consider the Possibilities
Think about all of the possibilities and angles when a problem occurs. Imagine alternate realities where actions and factors are arranged to lead to different endings. Not only is this exercise excellent for problem-solving skills and creativity, but it may also be used to assist you in developing a solution that you had yet to consider.
Evaluate Your Beliefs
It can be easy to consistently consider situations from the same perspective. Take time to carefully consider your beliefs and determine the basis for each. This will allow you to be more receptive to other opinions as well as change.
Focus on Your Actions
Concentrate on being in the moment. If you find it difficult to meditate, learning first how to focus on your actions is a great place to begin. Thinking only about the task at hand will prevent you from distraction and increase your level of productivity.
Read and Write
Reading and writing stimulate your memory, concentration and creativity. Try reading out loud with your partner, friend or family member to stimulate different parts of the brain.
Avoid Routines
The more you settle into a routine, the less you have to think about what you are doing. Try rearranging the structure of your day or visiting a new café. The more you experience, the smarter you will become, so try to vary your routines as much as possible.
Engage Your Senses
Sound, sight, smell and taste all rely on the brain. When listening to music, take note of song structure, instruments and lyrics. As you drink coffee, try to detect the different flavors within the blend. You can also try to pinpoint what you smell as you walk down the street. Observe how those around you behave and see what you can discover.
