At 3M, science is more than just a discipline – it’s a driving force that places us at the forefront of safety innovation. On the road, this means constantly innovating to address unique driving challenges faced by drivers in the transportation sector and those they share the road with. Our commitment doesn’t stop there. 

For more than 50 years, we’ve taken a 360-degree approach to safety, using science-based innovation and technology to help create a safer future for all Canadians, whether at work or in their everyday lives. 

Our mission is simple: to build a stronger frontline, help grow Canada’s future workforce, and prepare them for any challenge, now and in the future.

On the road: 3M innovations for safer driving

Road safety is one area where our innovations stand out. According to Transport Canada, nearly half of all driving fatalities happen during night conditions, even though these conditions account for a small percentage of total kilometers travelled. On a dark and unlit road, nearly all visual cues disappear except those that are retroreflective, line markings, and signs. Those few remaining cues become critical to safe driving. 

For the transportation industry, it’s essential that lines are the road are clear, and visible even during less-than-ideal weather conditions. Conventional surface-applied lane markings need to be re-painted annually, posing significant risks to road workers and increasing congestion. 3M’s wet-reflective pavement markings are designed to exceed safety standards. When recessed, our pavement markings have demonstrated a service life of approximately 10 years, offering significantly enhanced reflectivity, particularly in low light and wet conditions. This means that no matter what time of day you’re driving, you can have confidence that you’ll be able to get to your destination safely.

Jurisdictions across Canada have started to implement these solutions. In Ontario, the cities of Mississauga and London have recently conducted durable wet-reflective tape pilots. The 407ETR has used 3M’s durable wet-reflective tape lane markings for many years, and in 2022, the Ministry of Transportation Ontario began evaluating recessed durable pavement markings. And the data speaks for itself. Research in the United States also shows that wet-reflective pavement markings could reduce wet-night fatal injury crashes by 49 per cent.

We continue to work with agencies across Canada to make our roadways safer by improving both quality and durability. 

In the air we breathe: Prioritizing respiratory safety

Beyond the road, 3M has been a leader in respiratory protection for more than half a century, starting with the introduction of disposable respirators to the Canadian market in the 1970s. These lightweight, easy-to-use facepieces allowed workers to focus on their tasks in challenging environments without worrying about how their protective equipment would impact their ability to do their jobs safely and effectively.

And that was just the beginning. Our journey in respiratory safety has been shaped by continuous innovation, driven by the needs and feedback from those who rely on our protection for their work, whether in industrial or healthcare settings. 

The original disposable respirators we introduced in the 1970s became the precursor to what we now know as the N95 – an essential tool used in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2020, 3M expanded its Brockville, Ontario, facility to produce disposable respirators as part of a multi-level government effort to ramp up PPE production during the height of the pandemic. This expansion created new jobs in manufacturing, maintenance, process engineering, supervision, and quality assurance. “At 3M Canada, we are committed to using science to help all Canadians by providing made-in-Canada PPE like N95 respirators to frontline workers when they’re needed,” said Michael Spylo, Director, Personal Safety. 

Globally, 3M also worked to ensure that those who purchased a 3M respirator could validate its authenticity in a market that faced so many issues with counterfeit protective equipment. 

Since 2021, the Brockville plant has produced more than 200 million N95 respirators, supplying essential workforces in healthcare, construction, and industrial manufacturing with key protections they need to stay safe on the job. 

In the workplace: Enhancing safety for an evolving workforce 

Our commitment to safety is also reflected in our diverse range of PPE designed to protect workers across various industries – including in the transportation sector. Our safety innovations have consistently evolved to meet the needs of changing workplaces, keeping our customers top of mind as we adapt our technologies to meet the needs of shifting demographics in the workforce. 

For example, more women are entering the skilled trades than ever before, presenting an opportunity to help ensure the safety needs of Canadians of all shapes and sizes can be met to ensure the safety equipment they rely on fits them well.  

That’s why we’ve tailored our products to different people and tasks, creating solutions that fit everybody and every body, providing employers with resources to ensure employees stay safe no matter the job. 

We also apply this approach to hearing protection. No two ear canals are the same, and hearing protection that works for one person may not fully protect another. With technology like the 3M™ E-A-Rfit™ Dual-Ear Validation System, workers receive a precise numerical value of how well their hearing protection fits. 

At 3M, our commitment to safety is deeply rooted in our scientific approach and relentless innovation. From the air we breathe to the roads we travel; we are dedicated to creating a safer world for all Canadians. Our history of innovation in safety is not just a testament to our past achievements but a promise for a safer future.