OSHA Recognizes Kennametal Facility for Workplace Safety

March 13, 2002
Kennametal Inc.'s Orwell, Ohio, facility gets the OSHA stamp of approval for its health and safety program.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has named Kennametal Inc.'s Orwell, Ohio, metalworking manufacturing facility a Merit-level participant in its prestigious Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The Orwell site, comprised of a manufacturing plant and three support buildings, is among only 20 companies in Ohio and 800 in the United States to achieve this recognition.

"Kennametal believes that our workforce is our greatest asset, and we have partnered with our 12,000 employees at more than 60 worldwide facilities to provide clean, safe and productive environments," said Philip H. Weihl, Kennametal's vice president of global manufacturing. "OSHA's recognition today is a reward to all employees at Orwell for their hard work and effort."

OSHA presented Kennametal's Orwell plant manager, Lee Charity, with a certificate at a ceremony this morning at the Penniman Road site.

The OSHA award is one of several employee-related honors that Kennametal Inc., the No. 1 tooling solutions supplier in the U.S., has received in the past 15 months. The Latrobe, Pa., company was named one of the 50 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development in December 2000. Its Carbidie manufacturing facility in Irwin, Pa., received a Pennsylvania Governor's Award last September for outstanding labor-management cooperation. Its Bedford, Pa., facility received a Pennsylvania Governor's Award in 1999 for environmental excellence.

"Kennametal continues to strive to improve the environment, health and safety performance at all of our operations through Kennametal Lean Enterprise activities and continuous improvement in all that we do," said Mark D. Steele, vice president and director for environment, health and safety. "Active safety committees, committed leadership and the personal contributions of our local EHS coordinators make the difference that contributes to excellent performance. Our corporate EHS support team is honored to be associated with this accomplishment."

Kennametal's Orwell site applied to OSHA last May for recognition in VPP, which recognizes excellent workplace health and safety based on five key program elements - management leadership, employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and training. Out of more than 6 million businesses in the U.S., fewer than 800 have received VPP designation from OSHA. A team of OSHA inspectors spent four days last September at Kennametal's Orwell facility, evaluating operations, interviewing employees and inspecting records.

"We are gratified that OSHA has recognized the efforts of our more than 400 employees to make Kennametal Orwell one of the premier employers in Ohio," Charity said.

Kennametal's Orwell site, which has an annual payroll of more than $17 million, makes tungsten carbide inserts, or cutting tools, used in the metal-cutting industry. Orwell is the No. 1 producer of inserts for Kennametal.

Kennametal Inc. has approximately 12,000 employees worldwide.

edited by Sandy Smith ([email protected])

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

March 13, 2025
Learn about the main differences between OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001, and how ISO 45001 takes a proactive approach to prevent work-related incidents. Find out why businesses should...
March 13, 2025
Avetta is a leader in contractor management, and with over 15 years of industry experience, we can help you establish a robust contractor pre-qualification program that aligns...
March 13, 2025
EQT commits to supporting Avetta in its ongoing growth and innovation journey.
March 13, 2025
Learn OSHA workplace lighting requirements to enhance safety, productivity, and quality. Discover standards, compliance benefits, and risks of non-compliance.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!