“Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility” — a high priority order followed at every Rockwood facility, but most evident during 2007 at the Chemetall GmbH, Langelsheim facility. It was the most impressive of the contenders for the 2007 Safe Plant of the Year Award.
Not far behind were Chemical Specialties Inc., Harrisburg and Rockwood Pigments (UK) Ltd., Sudbury that were both awarded the Most Improved Facility Safety Award.
Rockwood also added a new award category for sites that have demonstrated exceptional performance over a multi-year span. The Award of Exceptional Merit went to AlphaGary Corporation, Pineville.
Chemetall Langelsheim — Safe Plant of the Year
Dr. Harald Helmrich, head of plant management at Chemetall GmbH, Langelsheim, Germany and his facility has gone over one year without a lost time injury. This site is one of the largest in the Rockwood group (800+ employees) and made a major effort to invigorate its Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) performance by focusing on a “near miss” culture. The Langelsheim team also has made improvements in material handing, lifting aids and implemented methods to improve housekeeping. In addition, both Chemetall Fine Chemicals and Surface Treatment plants have made reductions in plant emissions below permitted levels. All of these factors have led to their considerable success. Chemetall President Dr. Monika Engel-Bader expressed her thanks to the Langelsheim employees on behalf of management for their excellent team work: “The award is something very special because in addition to pure accident statistics, it acknowledges the ongoing activities of all workers as well as assessing safety-related work as a whole. Everyone agrees that when it comes to safety in the workplace, there is further work to be done and nothing should divert them from the task at hand.”
CSI Harrisburg — Most Improved Facility
Syl Bartos, vice president of operations at Chemical Specialties Inc. (CSI), Harrisburg, North Carolina, U.S. and his facility have gone one and a half years without a lost time injury. CSI established a new site safety committee structure, which is operated solely by the employees and restructured their SHE department for an additional in-plant safety resource. These types of improvements and other initiatives, including safety quizzes, inspection programs and community involvement, all contributed to a safe and successful 2007.
Rockwood Pigments Sudbury — Most Improved Facility
Bernie Arron, production manager at Rockwood Pigments (UK) Ltd., Sudbury, U.K. and his facility have gone two and a half years without a lost time injury. The site has made improvements to its products such as re-formulation to reduce hazards and the total number of raw materials they need to store and handle. In turn, they have made key improvements, such as reducing waste and transportation costs, improving storage and refurbishing safety signage.
AlphaGary Pineville — Award of Exceptional Merit
Jeff Blondin, plant manager at AlphaGary Corporation, Pineville, North Carolina, U.S., and his facility have achieved one million employee hours (more than five years) without a lost time accident. This safety milestone could only have been achieved through the team’s commitment to a safety culture supported by safety meetings, and various committees that are in place to promote safety and motivate all employees.
Please join the Rockwood Group in congratulating these colleagues for their excellent performance during 2007.
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