TTMA has recognized the importance of workplace safety for years with its annual Plant Safety Award, but this year’s recipients got the full spotlight—and a well-earned ovation—during the annual convention’s Closing Banquet.
TTMA introduced its plant safety contest in 1971. The winners, based on facility type and size, are chosen from the plants with the leading plant safety data on their OSHA 300A Summary Form.
The winners for their performance during 2018 were:
Great Dane Trailers (Trailer – Category A)
Strick Trailers (Trailer – Category B)
Trailstar International (Trailer – Category C)
Stoughton Trailers (Most Improved Trailer Plant)
Entrans International (Tank – Category A)
Wabash National Corp (Tank – Category B)
LBT Inc. (Most Improved Tank)
In the category for the largest plants, Great Dane’s manufacturing operation in Jonesboro AR earned the honor for facilities with more than 750,000 man-hours per year. This is the third TTMA Plant Safety Award for the Jonesboro facility, and the 39th total award for Great Dane since the contest began.
“Jonesboro’s leadership team made a commitment to develop a culture of safety within the plant,” said Brian Sage, Great Dane’s executive vice president of manufacturing. “The entire Jonesboro team got behind this initiative and committed to making the necessary changes to create a safe work environment and build a strong culture of safety.”
The Jonesboro facility employs more than 450 people and amassed more than 1 million hours without a lost time incident in 2018. Along with Great Dane’s other manufacturing facilities, the Jonesboro plant has implemented a strong 5S program, as well as a Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) program to help improve housekeeping within the facility and create a safer work environment.
For Wabash National, this marks the 12th year its tank trailer business received a plant safety award from TTMA. The award honored its operation in Mexico, which makes Brenner and Bulk brand tank trailers.
“We’re thrilled to be recognized by TTMA once again for exemplary safety performance,” said Dave Hill, vice president and general manager for tank trailers. “Safety is our No. 1 value and priority at Wabash National, and this recognition is a testament to the operational excellence our employees deliver every day.”
Strick Trailers picked up its fourth TTMA plant safety award since 2007.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Chris Burt, Strick’s safety leader. “Strick diligently focuses on safety every day. As a part of Strick’s mission statement, we take time and pride in working with our employees in all aspects of safety. Being proactive to come in whole and leave whole is a strong guiding philosophy.”