AWTEC of Plymouth received the prestigious Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award on June 1st for an exemplary safety and health management system.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) established the Michigan SHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
“We are very pleased to welcome AWTEC into this elite group of companies who provide outstanding safety and health protection for their workers,” said Steve Arwood, LARA Deputy Director. “We applaud your success in manufacturing high-quality products for the North American automotive market − while you diligently protect your employees.”
MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski presented the SHARP Award to AWTEC President Eiji Kato who accepted on behalf of all employees. Invited guests, management personnel and employees attended the ceremony.
“We are very thankful to MIOSHA and all those involved in recognizing our efforts to provide a safe and healthy workplace,” said Charles Singer, AWTEC Safety and Health Coordinator. “This prestigious award would not have been attainable without the hard work and dedication of our team members of whom we are very proud. We continue to strive every day to ensure that our employees are able to return home in the same condition as they arrived.”
The Michigan SHARP Program targets small, high-hazard employers – to help them develop, implement and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system. SHARP provides an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems, rather than simply reacting to them.
The MIOSHA Onsite Consultation Program within the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division operates the Michigan SHARP Program. Onsite consultants work with employers to help them become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety and health. SHARP worksites earn an exemption from “programmed” MIOSHA inspections on a yearly basis.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for AWTEC is 336350 – Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing, which is classified as a high-hazard industry. The MIOSHA review team consisted of Fred Hawkins, CET Onsite Industrial Hygienist; and William Griffie Jr. (retired), CET Onsite Safety Consultant.
In 2010, AWTEC had Total Recordable Case (TRC) rates and Days Away from Work and Restricted/Transfer Cases (DART) rates below the 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry average. Their TRC was 0.0 in 2010 – compared to the BLS rate of 5.9 for this type of industry. Their DART was 0.0 in 2010 – compared to the BLS rate of 2.6.
“The Michigan SHARP Program requires a comprehensive consultation visit, and the correction of all serious workplace safety and health hazards,” said Kalinowski. “AWTEC has developed a safety and health system that provides outstanding protection for their workers.”
The company has an excellent system in place, which incorporates each of the seven required SHARP elements: Hazard Anticipation and Detection; Hazard Prevention and Control; Planning and Evaluation; Administration and Supervision; Safety and Health Training; Management Leadership; and Employee Participation.
The management team at AWTEC makes every effort to provide a safe and healthy work environment, especially allocating resources to support their safety and health system. Some of the company’s best safety and health practices include:
- They have a full-time Safety and Health Coordinator and an active Safety Committee.
- Job safety analysis is performed for each work activity.
- Safety is the number one company policy priority.
- Supervisors and hourly employees receive the same safety and health training.
- Accidents and near misses are investigated to find their root cause.
Part of the Aisin Seiki family, AWTEC is located in Plymouth, MI, and was established in 1988 to provide remanufacturing capabilities for Aisin AW, their parent company. AWTEC employs 96 workers and their main priority is to cover the warranty programs for Aisin AW’s customers within North America.
AWTEC is a leading provider of products and services to the North American automotive market.
The company maintains a “Tradition of Excellence.” Starting with their Automatic Transmission Remanufacturing business, and continuing with their OE Sales & Logistics, Quality Investigations, and Plant Technical Support services, AWTEC has for more than 20 years provided the highest level of support for Aisin AW and Aisin Seiki products throughout North America.
Click here to be introduced to LARA
Source: LARA
