FIA to Honor Safety Winners

FIA has announced another record-breaking year for participation in its annual Injury and Illness Survey. One hundred and ten forging facilities participated in the survey for 2007, and the the FIA Safety and Health Committee used the results of the survey to determine the member companies with the best safety records. The awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting of Members scheduled for May 5-6 at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel in Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), FL.

The FIA also notes that the forging industry reported a 14% reduction in the DART (Days Away from work, work Restrictions, or job Transfer cases) Rates.

The safety award winners were determined by the FIA Safety & Health Committee on the basis of incident and severity rates as reported on logs required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The committee evaluates OSHA recordable incidents, including total deaths, total lost-workday cases, total incidents involving days away from work, total number of days away from work, total days of restricted work activity, total injuries and illnesses without lost workdays, total employee hours worked, and annual number of employees.

Awards are given in each of four groups established according to average annual employment. Group I includes companies with up to 80 employees, Group II includes companies with 81 to 175 employees, Group III represents companies with 176 to 325 employees, and Group IV includes companies with more 326 employees and more.

First, second, and third place Safety Awards in the form of plaques are given in each group for companies having the lowest Recordable Cases Incidence Rate, provided that the DART Incidence Rate falls below the group average. In the event that Recordable Incidence Rates are equal, the committee uses the lower DART Incidence Rate to determine the award. Sixteen companies will be recognized as plaque award winners.

Improvement Awards are given in each group for the company experiencing the greatest improvement in the DART Incidence Rate. This award is determined by percentage of improvement by DART Incidence Rate compared with the average of the last three years. Four companies will be so honored.

A certificate of recognition is awarded to each company not receiving a first-, second-, or thirdplace award whose Recordable Incidence Rate falls below the group average — provided that the DART Incidence Rate also falls below the group average. At the upcoming FIA meeting, 37 companies will be recognized with certificates of recognition.

The information for the competition is gathered from questionnaires mailed annually to all FIA producer members. Producer members provide the data recorded on OSHA Form No. 300, “Summary of Occupational Injuries/Illnesses for Calendar Year” for U.S. companies, and from Worker’s Compensation Reports for Canadian companies on the questionnaires. Completed returns provide the basis not only for the Annual Safety and Health Awards, but also for the Annual Occupational Injury & Illness Report.

Two rates were computed for each participant: DART Incidence Rate, and Frequency Rate. The published report provides a summary for the total industry and detailed company rankings, according to the Incidence Rate by size groups. Each participant will fall within one of four size categories, according to four groups based on average annual employment. The number of employees is based on the entire forging operation for the company, plant, or division being reported, including executive, administrative, clerical, sales, maintenance, and production.

FIA sends the annual report only to participants. It includes the name of the participating companies with resulting incidence and severity rates. Any company may provide data, but elect to withhold its company name.

For more information on FIA’s various Safety and Health Committee programs, including the March- April newsletter, visit the Forging Industry Association online (www.forging.org), and click on “Safety” under “Forging Producers and Suppliers.”

2007 Certificate Winners

Group I
Cornell Forge Co.
Pacific Forge Inc.
Solmet Technologies Inc.
Scot Forge Inc.-Franklin Park
The Council Tool Co. Inc.
Green Bay Drop Forge - Cleveland Hardware & Forging
Carbo Forge Inc.
MacLean Flowform LLC
Virginia Forge Co. - A MFC Group Company
Impaction Co.
Net Plant - Impact Forge Group Inc.
FormTech Industries - Troy, MI
Midwest Tool & Cutlery Co.

Group II
Ajax Rolled Ring & Machine
Gulf Coast Machine & Supply Co.
Turbine Engine Components Technologies, Cleveland
Carolina Forge - A MFC Group Company
Omni Plant - Impact Forge Group Inc.
Colfor, An AAM Company
FormTech Industries - Minerva, OH
Ellwood Texas Forge
DeKalb Forge Co.
Dixie Industries - Columbus McKinnon Group
Martin Tool & Forge
UPCO Inc.

Group III
BAE Systems - Ground Systems Anniston
Ellwood National Forge
Walker Forge Inc.
Rotek Inc.
Ellwood City Forge - Forging Division
Presrite Corp. - 3665 E. 78th St. Div., Cleveland
Presrite Corp. - Bessemer Avenue Div., Cleveland
Scot Forge Co. - Clinton, WI
Hirschvogel Inc.

Group IV
Impact Plant - Impact Forge Group Inc.
Lebus Mfg. Co. - The Crosby Group
Meadville Forging Co. - A MFC Group Company