Outstanding Safety Records Honored

Each year at its Annual Meeting of Members, the Forging Industry Association honors member companies that achieve success in their safety programs during the previous year. For 2005, at the meeting held May 13-16, 2006, at The Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC, FIA recognized 15 companies for their outstanding safety records.

The 15 companies were presented with plaques recognizing their achievements during 2005. Safety award certificates were presented to 26 companies.

The awards were presented in four size categories. Group I includes companies with up to 80 employees, Group II is for companies with 81 to 175 employees, Group III is for companies with 176 to 325 employees, and Group IV is for companies with more 326 employees and more.

The safety award winners were determined on the basis of incident and severity rates as reported on logs required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The FIA Safety and Health Committee evaluates OSHA recordable incidents, including total deaths, total lost-workday cases, total incidents involving days away from work, total number of days away from work, total days of restricted work activity, total injuries and illnesses without lost workdays, total employee hours worked, and annual number of employees.

The committee determined first-, second-, and third-place awards for the lowest accident-incidence and accident-severity rates.

An improvement award was given to one company in each company-size category for achieving the greatest improvement in incidence rate statistics. This award is determined by the percentage of improvement by incidence rate compared with the average rate of the last three years.

The certificate of recognition is awarded to each company not receiving a first, second, or third place award whose Incidence Rate falls below the group averaging provide that the Frequency Rate also falls below the group average.

The information for the competition is gathered from questionnaires mailed annually to all FIA producer members. Completed returns provide the basis for the Annual Occupational Injury & Illness Report, as well as the Annual Safety & Health Awards. Producer members use the data recorded on OSHA Form No. 300, “Summary of Occupational Injuries/Illnesses for Calendar Year” for U.S. companies, and from Worker’s Compensation Reports for Canadian companies.

Two rates were computed for each participant: DART Incidence Rate, and Frequency Rate. The published report provides a summary for the total industry and detailed company rankings, according to the Incidence Rate by size groups. Each participant will fall within one of four size categories according to four groups based on average annual employment. The number of employees is based on the entire forging operation for the company, plant, or division being reported, including executive, administrative, clerical, sales, maintenance, and production.

FIA sends the annual report only to participants. It includes the name of the participating companies with resulting incidence and severity rates. Any company may provide data, but elect to withhold their company name.

For information see the FIA/OSHA Safety Alliance page at www.forging.org

SAFETY PLAQUE WINNERS

SAFETY CERTIFICATE WINNERS