Pace receives NADCA Safety Awards 12 years in a row
Pace is remarkably proud of our recognition by the National Aluminum Die Casting Association (NADCA). Multiple divisions within the company received NADCA Safety Awards this year, which marks 12 consecutive years we have received these prestigious industry awards.
According to NADCA, the frequency and injury rates for the die casting industry are approximately twice those of other private industries. So safety is a big concern for the industry. To be recognized within the industry for exceptional safety standards is a significant honor, and it shows that our commitment to the issue is making a difference.
About the Award
The NADCA Safety Award Program was developed to honor Corporate Members that both exceed and meet the average U.S. national safety standards for all manufacturing in a given year. There are two award levels within the program. Perfect Safety award winners have an incident rate of 0.00, while Outstanding Safety award winners are companies with a 4.00 or less of total recordable cases. That number is an average of the entire manufacturing industry.
Incidence rates are based on the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 fulltime workers. The average is calculated by the number of injuries and illnesses divided by total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year.
Recognition for Pace
Overall there were nine divisions within Pace that were recognized this year. B&C achieved the highest award for Perfect Safety. Harrison, which has a particularly strong safety record, received the Outstanding Award for the 12th year in a row. Two of those years were for Perfect Safety.
Other Outstanding Safety awards this year were given to Patterson Mold & Tool, Airo, Product Tech, Grafton, Cambridge, St. Paul, and Mangas Tool & Die.
Award winning companies will be featured in the May issue of DCE magazine and will be recognized during a luncheon at NADCA’s Die Casting Congress & Tabletop in Columbus, Ohio, September 26-28, 2016.
Planned Progress
To a large extent, our positive results are due to our Health & Safety Management System (HSMS) and our employees’ commitment to safety. Each division is responsible for implementing four elements within HSMS: Management Commitment & Associate Involvement, Worksite Analysis, Hazard Prevention & Control and Training. To hold ourselves accountable, the corporate health & safety department audits and scores each division every two years.
A few initiatives of HSMS include:
Making safety personal: Each Pace associate is asked to create his or her own Personal Safety Pledge. This could be anything from not texting and driving, remembering to wear seatbelts, and wearing proper PPE while using shop tools.
Having high expectations for contractors: The HSMS requires outside contractors working at Pace to receive the same high quality safety training as associates. They must follow the same rules and policies, as well.
Improving health & wellness: We have held health clinics where Health Risk Assessments are provided to encourage associates and their families to improve their health and prevent serious illnesses.
A Measureable Difference
Pace has decreased the recordable incident rate 75% from 2011 to ending 2015. This is due in large part to our CEO, Scott Bull and the executive team’s commitment to safety, as well as all of the associates at Pace, being focused on improving the safety culture.
We’ve learned that when we hold each other accountable to make good, safe choices on the job, we create a safety 24/7 culture. This means greater efficiency for our customers and a better work environment for our associates where they feel valued and safe.
Our commitment to safety is unconditional, and working safely is a condition of employment. We believe all accidents are preventable, and we have clear goal to achieve zero injuries. This should mean many more years of Safety Awards in our future.
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