Siemens wins SHARP award for safety, health

November 7, 2011

Siemens Industry Inc.’s Metallurgical Services has announced its Benton Harbor, Mich., facility has received the Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award for its outstanding safety and health management system. This is the second year in a row that the facility has been recognized by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).

"We have been working toward the SHARP Award for five years," said Keith Rapp, general manager at the Benton Harbor facility. "We knew we had our work cut out for us because only a few companies in Michigan actually receive SHARP status, but through determination and dedication, the award was finally achieved. This recognition is a great testament to the commitment of our hard-working employees."

MIOSHA established the Michigan SHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence beyond their peers. The program, part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), targets small, high-hazard employers to help them develop, implement, and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management systems.

Since 2008 the Benton Harbor facility's average total recordable case (TRC) rates and days away from work, restricted or transferred (DART) cases rates were below the 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry average. Its average TRC rate was 2.6, compared to the 2009 BLS rate of 5.4 for this type of industry. Its average DART rate was 1.1, compared to the 2009 BLS rate of 2.6.

The Benton Harbor facility is a Tier 1 supplier to the North American steel industry. It employs 49 workers and specializes in the maintenance and engineering of continuous caster molds, including the application of alloyed nickel coating for mold copper plates. Last year the facility received MIOSHA's Gold Award for maintaining an outstanding safety and health record.

Siemens Industry Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens' global industry sector business, a supplier of production, transportation, and building technology products.