Siemens Energy & Automation was recognized recently for clean manufacturing in Georgia and for its safe work environment in Ohio.
Siemens received the Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention for its Tucker, Ga., facility, which manufactures residential load centers. It also was awarded Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for its Bellefontaine, Ohio, plant where Siemens designs and manufactures low voltage circuit breakers.
The Governor's Award is presented each year to companies that demonstrate leadership and commitment to Georgia's environment through innovative pollution prevention efforts. Pollution Prevention is elimination of waste at the source, which encourages reduced levels of raw materials, water and energy through conservation and reuse.
The Tucker facility earlier this year received the State of Georgia Chamber of Commerce Environmental Protection Division Award for a 78 percent reduction in hazardous waste over a 4-year period.
Prestigious OSHA Award
Siemens joined a select group when it gained VPP Star status from OSHA. The selection goes to facilities that have designed and implemented outstanding health and safety programs. OSHA inspectors, who spent three days at the Bellefontaine plant, gave "Excellent" ratings for ergonomics, machine guarding, accident reporting and investigation, employee involvement, employee training and housekeeping.
In a VPP, management, labor and OSHA cooperate to establish a program that meets an established set of criteria. The VPP concept recognizes that compliance enforcement alone can't achieve OSHA objectives. Good safety management programs that go beyond OSHA standards can protect workers more effectively than simple compliance. VPP sites generally experience from 60 to 80 percent fewer lost workday injuries than the average workplace.
"These awards honor our employees for their innovation in finding ways to do their jobs better, safer and cleaner. Our company and the communities in which we work both benefit," said Aubert Martin, president and CEO of Siemens Energy & Automation.
Source: Siemens Corporation
