Six tire makers with U.S. operations were honored by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) for their efforts to advance worker health and safety in 2017.
The Safety and Health Improvement Program (SHIP) was created in 1981 and has traditionally recognized member companies for excellence and improvement in worker health and safety. This year, USTMA has expanded the program to recognize companies for proactive steps taken to improve workplace safety and health cultures. The new Leadership Award honors companies that promote innovative practices to improve worker safety.
Four companies received the Leadership Award for 2017:
Bridgestone Americas Inc.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Michelin North America Inc.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries
“USTMA members share a vision for the U.S. tire manufacturing industry of zero injuries in the workplace,” says Anne Forristall Luke, CEO and president of USTMA. “USTMA’s annual SHIP Awards demonstrate our members’ progress toward meeting that vision.”
Forty-seven plants including tread rubber manufacturing, inner tube manufacturing, aircraft tire manufacturing and tire manufacturing from USTMA member companies supplied data for the annual survey to be eligible for awards. The data supplied to USTMA is identical to information provided to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, which publishes annual injury and illness information on all industries.
Excellence Awards winners were:
Bridgestone: Oxford, N.C.
Michelin: Dothan, Ala.; Lexington, S.C.; Greenville, S.C. and Asheboro, N.C.
Improvement Awards were presented to:
Bridgestone: Bloomington, Ill.; La Vergne, Tenn.; Wilson, N.C.; Abilene, Texas and Griffin, Ga.
Michelin: Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Ardmore, Okla. and Greenville, S.C.
Pirelli Tire North America: Rome, Ga.
Sumitomo: Tonawanda, N.Y.
Toyo Tire Holdings of America Inc.: White, Ga.
For more information about USTMA, go to www.ustires.org.
