Plans to create a safety training and compliance hub in Southwestern Ontario
SafetyCo Partners is investing in ACUTE Environmental & Safety Services, with plans to establish a new safety training and compliance hub in Southwestern Ontario.
SafetyCo, a Canadian provider of integrated occupational health and safety solutions, says the partnership with Waterloo-based ACUTE will allow the organization to expand its capacity to train at least 10,000 workers annually across the construction, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. The partnership also aims to double ACUTE’s capacity to deliver confined space services in response to increasing demand in the region.
“More Canadian businesses recognize they can't afford not to invest in a comprehensive approach to health and safety,” says Mark Ferrier, co-founder and president of SafetyCo Partners. “We’re thrilled to welcome ACUTE to the SafetyCo team to meet the growing demand for fully integrated, strategic safety and environmental solutions.”
ACUTE, which has operated since 1995, provides workplace safety training, consulting, and on-site safety services. Its Waterloo-based training facility delivers hands-on instruction using real tools and scenarios designed to replicate workplace hazards. According to SafetyCo, ACUTE will retain ownership of its training program content while leveraging SafetyCo’s technology, marketing, and operational support to expand service delivery.
Ron Campbell, president of ACUTE Environmental & Safety Services, says, “partnering with SafetyCo marks an exciting new chapter for ACUTE. We can broaden our reach and help thousands more workers get home from work safely.”
The expansion of ACUTE’s Waterloo facility is expected to create new employment opportunities, including safety trainers and support staff, to accommodate the projected increase in service capacity.
SafetyCo currently trains approximately 60,000 workers annually. The organization offers services including industrial and construction safety training, consulting, site inspections, and confined space rescue services. In recent years, SafetyCo has expanded its network through partnerships with Industrial Safety Trainers, Mentor Safety Consultants, and SDS, which specializes in safety officer and confined space rescue services.
According to data cited by SafetyCo, workplace injuries and illnesses cost the Canadian economy $29.4 billion annually. The company says its approach seeks to address fragmentation in safety services by delivering a full spectrum of integrated safety solutions under one organization.
ACUTE’s services will continue to focus on sectors such as construction, automotive, nuclear energy, entertainment, foodservice, education, healthcare, logistics, and transportation.
