US Bridgestone plant wins 4th consecutive health & safety award

The Warren County tyre plant operated by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has received the highest health and safety award given out by health authorities in its home state; on July 27 the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development’s Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) unit honoured the plant with its Volunteer STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) award.

The Volunteer STAR is patterned after the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and recognises the “best of the best” in the area of safety and health programming and performance. This is the fourth consecutive time the Warren County plant has received the award, the first time being in 1997. Facilities must be re-certified every three to four years.

“Bridgestone Americas is committed to being a premier place to work, and a critical part of achieving that is adhering to the highest levels of safety and health in our plants,” said Barry Owens, vice-president, Manufacturing for Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group. “The receipt of this award represents a continued total team effort on the part of our teammates here in Warren County, and it gives us great pride to help celebrate their accomplishments here today.”

The Warren County plant is one of only three tyre manufacturing facilities in the US that is certified as an OSHA VPP Star site. The other two plants – in Aiken County, South Carolina, and Bloomington, Illinois – are also Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations facilities. “Bridgestone Americas was one of the first companies in Tennessee to be awarded the Volunteer STAR, and has continued to be exemplary in its safety and health programmes throughout the years,” said Deputy Commissioner Alisa Malone of the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. “It’s an honour to be here today to present this award and celebrate a legacy of health and safety excellence here in Warren County.”