BRISTOL, Va. — Strongwell (USA) is celebrating one year without any accidents at its Highlands manufacturing facility, located in Abingdon, Virginia.
The facility manufactures a variety of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite structural shapes used in the industrial, building and construction, and infrastructure markets.
“We are proud of this accomplishment at our Highlands facility,” says David Oakley, president and CEO of Strongwell. “From maintaining clean and organized workspaces, recommending safety improvements and keeping safety front of mind, the employees of Strongwell have earned this achievement and recognition of a job well done.”
In 2020, Strongwell’s Safety Committee hosted a campaign at the plant that examined a different department each month. The team searched for ways to improve safety and published training modules on best practices in separate departments and areas of the plant. Additionally, all employees participated in training to increase awareness of plant-wide safety practices.
The achievement was celebrated with a meal prepared by Highlands Plant Manager Robert Evans, milestone t-shirts for employees, and congratulations from Strongwell management.
“We take safety very seriously at our facility, and every person here is dedicated to working safely while getting the job done,” Evans says.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. manufacturers incur 3.3 incidents per 100 workers per year, on average. Between its Bristol and Abingdon locations, Strongwell provides stable employment and growth opportunities for nearly 300 people, and the average tenure of a worker in these locations is 15 years.
“Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we could never have achieved a year without accidents without everyone taking ownership for working safely,” says Lydia Sinemus, corporate director of Human Resources and Environmental Health & Safety. “Strongwell consistently ranks better than the national average in manufacturing safety, and Highlands has done an exemplary job.”
For more information on Strongwell, visit www.strongwell.com.