JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. ― General Shale, a longtime provider of brick for high-quality commercial and residential projects throughout the nation, has received the North Carolina Department of Labor’s top annual safety awards for a production facility and several retail locations across the state.

The Gold Safety Award, which honors outstanding health and safety efforts in 2014, was recently presented for the fourth consecutive year to each of General Shale’s retail locations in Charlotte, Kernersville, Raleigh, Sanford and Wilmington. The company’s manufacturing location in Brickhaven, near Moncure, also received a Gold Safety Award.

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

“The well-being of our employees is of utmost importance to our organization, which is why our corporate culture emphasizes the significance of a safe work environment,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “I am proud of our North Carolina teams for achieving this level of excellence and for their dedication to health and safety.”

The North Carolina Department of Labor’s Safety Awards Program recognizes private and public firms throughout the state that achieve and maintain good safety records. To qualify for a safety award, a firm must have had no fatalities during the calendar year at the site or location for which the award was given, and must have maintained an incidence rate that is at least 50 percent below the average for its particular industry group.

“At General Shale, we believe that upholding excellent health and safety standards is a key component of a successful organization,” says Brian Ogle, safety and risk manager for General Shale. “This award acknowledges our stringent efforts to ensure the welfare of our employees.”

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, supplying a wide variety of masonry materials for residential, commercial and specialty architectural projects. These materials include brick, thin veneers, stone, outdoor living kits, concrete block and various building materials, which include Arriscraft Stone Products. The company offers an endless array of sizes, colors and textures to complete any building project. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is the company’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates manufacturing facilities in nine states and provinces, in addition to a network of more than 40 retail showrooms and over 300 affiliated distributors across North America. In 1999, General Shale grew even stronger when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer.

General Shale was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

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