Junnikkala
PRO24 HSEQ system makes everyday life more efficient and improves safety at sawmills

Caption: Petri Maunula, HSEQ Manager of Junnikkala Oy and the new production plant in Oulu

Junnikkala Oy employs approximately 230 people in three locations: in Kalajoki, Oulainen and Oulu. The PRO24 system was widely adopted three years ago in the development of HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment, Quality) work. Under the leadership of HSEQ Manager Petri Maunula, the system has become an integral part of their daily work and the maintenance of occupational safety. The system also provides extensive support for the needs of the whole organisation, from induction to information flow.

At the Junnikkala sawmills, HSEQ responsibilities are primarily handled by Petri and the foremen. The PRO24 system serves as a shared platform for the entire staff, supporting the management of, for example, occupational safety reports, near-miss reports, and chemical risk assessments. “PRO24 is also an important tool for internal communication; it essentially serves as our intranet, and employees can access internal announcements, production updates, and information related to employee benefits,” Petri explains. For example, the production desk’s shift schedules are easily accessible to everyone; employees can check their shifts even on a Sunday evening.

There was no industrial-scale sawmill in the Oulu region, so Junnikkala decided to take action and build a completely new production plant in Oulu. The production plant has been ramped up in 2024, but the sawmill construction site already brought additional depth to Junnikkala's PRO24. At the Oulu plant, among other things, weekly TR measurements were carried out, which resulted in a lot of safety measures, and the statutory records were filled into PRO24, keeping the information constantly up-to-date and in one place. On site, the measurements were managed by a safety coordinator, who also took care of the required measures.

Read more here: Safety coordinator on construction sites - Protect

PRO24 played a key role in the orientation of the Oulu plant site. The extent of the project is well illustrated by the fact that around 1300 workers were trained during the construction site. The use of the electronic PRO24 system for induction training and exams resulted in huge time savings. Without this, the induction would have required considerably more resources and now a lot of lessons have been learned.

PRO24 has also played an important role in the training and documentation of sawmill workers. At Junnikkala sawmills, more than 100 employees have been trained electronically, and the number is constantly increasing as new staff and summer workers join the company. New employees complete a basic safety course and exam through PRO24. Without PRO24, induction would have taken longer, but now all induction materials and exam data are stored electronically in one place, where there is also a digital record of completion.

Work risk assessments are part of the benefits of PRO24. The assessments cover all workplaces and are continuously updated. "Around 60 risk analyses have been carried out, and the risks identified are most commonly related to incidents on production lines," Petri explains. The production lines are safe under normal conditions, but in case of incidents, such as timber breaks, piles are created and there are risks involved in clearing them.

Although sawmills are highly automated, handling lumber during disruptions can be strenuous and physically demanding, as wide and thick planks require the use of physical strength. In addition, resolving disruptions can involve several hazards, ranging from cramped working conditions to the risk of falling. When the risks of the work are known, efforts are made to prevent them from occurring, but it also allows for better preparation for disruptions.

PRO24 has brought tangible improvements to the daily life of Junnikkala on many levels. "There has been a significant increase in the number of accident and near miss reports. Even minor near-misses are being recorded, and the examinations allow us to better identify risk factors." Petri says. Every near miss and accident is carefully investigated, whether it is a minor injury such as a cut or a more serious accident that leads to absence from work. Accidents and near misses are routinely investigated and findings are regularly documented in PRO24, leading to corrective action.

The support and expert services provided by SK Protect Oy have also been important to Junnikkala's HSEQ work. For example, Protect's experts have provided assistance with ATEX legislation, especially for the new sawmill in Oulu. "It has been useful to have all documentation available in the same system. Protect's experts have helped us to improve our procedures and keep our documentation up to date," Petri says. "When we proposed the low risk assessment form to Protect, we had a meeting and the form was up and running the very next week."

See also: HalpaHalli uses PRO24 HSEQ system for a wide range of applications from store operations to logistics - Protect

With PRO24, we have been able to increase our safety observations and risk assessments, enabling us to address smaller and smaller risks and reduce the occurrence of larger ones." In three years, the PRO24 system has become firmly rooted in Junnikkala Sawmills' operations and has become a key part of the organisation's safety and quality work. HSEQ Manager Petri Maunula sums up, "Through the PRO24 system, we have been able to build a paperless, safety-focused and systematic working environment."

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