Automotive Fastener Maker Wins MIOSHA's 26th Star
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Director Doug Kalinowski presented the MVPP Star Award today to Plant Manager Jim O'Dea and the plant's Safety and Health Committee in a ceremony welcoming Acument Global Technologies' Holly Operations Gainey Drive facility as the 26th Star site statewide. Martin Schnurr, vice president and general manager of Acument North America, was on hand to congratulate employees of the plant, which makes automotive fasteners, for their achievement, MIOSHA said.
"We are honored to welcome the Acument Gainey Drive facility into this elite group of Star companies who provide exemplary safety and health protection for their workers," said Keith Cooley, who heads MIOSHA's parent agency. "Your corporate dedication to safety sends a strong message that focusing on worker safety is a sound business decision."
"This is truly a total team accomplishment reflecting our operation's proactive and preventative culture. All of our team members realize that safety is everyone's responsibility. The teamwork, cooperation, and personal standards they live by daily are the key to creating remarkably consistent results," said O'Dea. "The leadership of Operations Manager Richard Stout, EHS coordinator Jennifer Henderson, and Regional EHS Manager Michelle Cook -- combined with the personal commitment of the members of the Gainey Operations Cross-Functional Safety Team -- enabled us to reach this high standard of performance. I'm proud to be associated with them."
MIOSHA established the MVPP program in 1996. The Gainey Drive facility received the MVPP Rising Star Award in 2004. MIOSH said the plant's incidence rates are below the industry average for its NAICS code (33637, Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping), and its total case incidence rate (TCIR) was 0.0 in 2006. The BLS Michigan industry average for that year was 9.5. The plant's total days away/restricted cases (DART) rate was 0.0 in 2006 against a BLS industry average of 4.9.
"National VPP sites experience 60 to 80 percent less lost work day injuries than would be expected of an average site in their industry," said Kalinowski. "Not only does the MVPP program significantly reduce injuries and illnesses; it also has a tremendous impact on the bottom line."
The Gainey Drive facility employs 27 workers and produces metal washers for the automotive fastener industry. The MIOSHA review team consisted of Doug Kimmel, team leader and CET safety specialist, and Kristin Osterkamp, CIH, CSP, CET industrial hygienist.
For information about Troy, Mich.-based Acument Global Technologies, visit www.acument.com.