May 19, 2009 - Michigan Packaging Company of Mason received the prestigious Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award on May 18th for an exemplary safety and health management system.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) established the Michigan SHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG).
Michigan Packaging Company has gone nearly six years without a lost time accident. This is a testament to their outstanding safety and health system.
"We are very pleased to welcome Michigan Packaging Company into this elite group of companies who provide outstanding safety and health protection for their workers," said Susan R. Corbin, DELEG Deputy Director & Chief of Staff. "We applaud your leadership and long-term success in creating high-caliber packaging products − while you diligently protect your employees."
MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski presented the SHARP Award to Matt Barnes, General Manager; Jamie Sleight, EHS Coordinator; and the Safety and Health Committee. First and second shift employees attended the ceremony. This is the 17th SHARP Award presented in Michigan.
"We thank MIOSHA for this special recognition. We are very blessed and thankful for our continuous improvement in the areas of safety and health at Michigan Packaging Company," said Barnes. "Safety awareness is a strong fundamental with our team. During our 42-year history, Michigan Packaging Company has never been safer than we are today."
The Michigan SHARP Program targets small, high-hazard employers - to help them develop, implement and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system. SHARP provides an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems, rather than simply reacting to them.
The MIOSHA Onsite Consultation Program within the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division operates the Michigan SHARP Program. Onsite consultants work with employers to help them become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety and health. SHARP worksites earn an exemption from "programmed" MIOSHA inspections on a yearly basis.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for Michigan Packaging Company is 322211 - Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing, which is classified as a high-hazard industry. The MIOSHA review team consisted of Joe Barela, Senior Onsite Safety Consultant, and Eric Zaban, Senior Onsite Industrial Hygienist. Debra Gundry, CET Senior Safety Consultant also provided safety services to the company.
In 2007, Michigan Packaging had a Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) and Days Away from Work and Restricted/Transfer cases (DART) rate that was below the 2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry average. Their 2007 TCIR was 0.7 compared to the BLS rate of 4.2 for this type of industry. Their 2007 DART was 0.0, and compares favorably to the BLS rate of 2.3.
"The Michigan SHARP Program requires a comprehensive consultation visit, and the correction of all serious workplace safety and health hazards," said Kalinowski. "Michigan Packaging Company has developed a safety and health system that provides outstanding protection for their workers."
The company has an excellent system in place, which incorporates each of the seven required elements: Hazard Anticipation and Detection; Hazard Prevention and Control; Planning and Evaluation; Administration and Supervision; Safety and Health Training; Management Leadership; and Employee Participation.
The management team at Michigan Packaging makes every effort to provide a safe and healthy work environment, especially allocating significant resources to support their safety and health system. Some of the company's best safety and health practices include:
- They provide outstanding training programs to help employees do their jobs safely.
- They have a full-time EHS Coordinator and a Safety and Health Committee that meets monthly and performs scheduled in-house inspections.
- There is an effective hazard reporting system and accidents are investigated for root causes.
- The facility has effective, written plans for emergency situations.
- Postings, email postings, chain-of-command distributions, and company-wide meetings are used to involve employees in safety and health issues.
Michigan Packaging Company employs 114 workers and is a corrugated sheet feeder. They produce a wide variety of packaging products while offering sustainable packaging strategies that are designed to optimize materials and energy.
Michigan Packaging is one of five companies that make up CorrChoice, a family of corrugated sheet feeders serving the Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S. CorrChoice companies offer unique services and products that help their customers be more successful in the markets they serve. In turn, CorrChoice is a subsidiary of Grief, Inc., a world leader in industrial packaging and services.
Read more releases from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
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