Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Facility Operates 1 Million Man-Hours Without Lost-Time AccidentWilson, N.C., facility celebrates safety milestone
WILSON, N.C. (Jan. 5, 2010) - Reaching a major safety milestone, the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) consumer tire manufacturing plant in Wilson, N.C., recently marked 1 million man-hours without a losttime accident.
“This is a significant achievement that illustrates how seriously our teammates are committed to safety,” said Bob Walker, Vice President, Health, Safety and Industrial Hygiene, Bridgestone Americas, BATO’s parent company. “Congratulations to the Wilson facility for its outstanding results and continuous improvement in safety.”
The 1 million man-hour achievement, while rare in many other manufacturing environments, is not the first safety-related recognition
earned by Wilson teammates. In 2007, the North Carolina Department of Labor recognized the facility for the fourth consecutive year with a North Carolina Safety Achievement Award. The Rubber Manufacturers Association also recognized the Wilson facility with a Safety Health Improvement Award for safety advancements and low incidence rates in 2008.
“Every day, BATO teammates ensure the highest level of safety for one another in the workplace,” said Jim Pridgen, Wilson Plant Manager, BATO. “This is a tremendous achievement for our team. We will continue to strive for the highest levels of safety for our plants.”
Wilson became the eighth facility in the Bridgestone Americas family of companies to surpass the 1 million man-hour milestone in 2009, making it a record year.
The Wilson facility employs more than 1,800 teammates and produces passenger and light truck tires.
About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company’s Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.