Is Your Company One of America's Safest?

At Occupational Hazards, we created the America's Safest Companies recognition program to acknowledge those companies across the United States that day in and day out protect their employees and their bottom line through solid, well-defined safety programs, innovative solutions to challenges, a belief that safety is the "right thing to do," mutual respect between management and employees, and management commitment to safety.

The process to select each year's list of America's Safest Companies begins several months before the list is announced. Prior to looking at individual companies, we save every press release announcing company milestones such as achieving a million or millions of hours worked without lost-time accidents or recognition for safety within an industry. Then, we solicit nominations via the Occupational Hazards' Web site and E-news for approximately two months before a cut-off date of June 1. We ask contributing editors and other occupational safety and health professionals for their suggestions.

Criteria

Once we had a list of about 40-50 possibilities, we start our research. We examine company Web sites and send out questionnaires that go more in depth about company programs. We look at these specific criteria:

OSHA illness and injury statistics. They must have an illness and injury rate lower than the OSHA average for their SIC code. At this point, we really only consider companies that are at least 1/2 of the illness and injury rate for their SIC code.
Corporate commitment to safety via written, widely communicated statements, policies and programs, and through commitment of resources devoted to safety.
Participation by senior management in safety via such avenues as president's safety awards for individual company facilities or employees, attendance at safety meetings, public statements in support of safety, etc.
Participation and enthusiasm by employees in safety via such avenues as suggestion programs, employee empowerment to make changes relevant to improved safety, participation on safety committees and audit teams, participation in safety and health fairs, etc.
Recognition from industry associations or associations such as the National Safety Council and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine for safety efforts.
Recognition by OSHA through Star or Merit status in the Voluntary Protection Program.
Innovative programs related to safety, industrial hygiene or occupational health.
Continuous improvement in safety.

Application Process

Do you think you work at one of America's Safest Companies? Are you familiar with a facility that does safety well, for all the "right" reasons?

If so, tell us about it. Tell us about the facility: location, industry, products, number of employees. Tell us about the safety program: its elements, OSHA lost-time rates, standout programs, innovations, etc. Include contact information for the person or persons responsible for the safety program, so we can give him/her/them a call.

Nominee facilities can be of any size or in any industry, but must be located in the United States or Puerto Rico. Facilities that have previously earned the designation of being one of America's Safest Companies cannot be nominated, but another division of the company can be considered for recognition.

Send us as much or as little information as you choose. We will review all nominations with our editors, editorial advisory board, industry associations and safety organizations and make our decision. All information should be sent to Sandy Smith at [email protected].

Previous Honorees

2002