Scrap Recycler Receives Safety Award

Employees of Hummelstein Iron & Metal, Jonesboro, Ark., celebrated receiving Wausau Insurance Company’s Gold Commendation Safety Award.

Loss Prevention Service Director, Larry Sefton, CSP, presented the plaque to Hummelstein employees for working 200,000 man hours with no lost-time accidents.

According to the federal the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sefton said Hummelstein’s safety rating is 100 percent better than the published rate for their industry type.

Sam Hummelstein, president and owner, credits the company’s excellent safety rating to the diligence of employees. He also said the celebration recognizes meeting an internal goal of reaching 1,000 days with no lost-time accidents.

 “Our employees work hard to maintain safety standards outlined in our company’s mission statement, and they also know that safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.

Hummelstein’s works with Arkansas Department of Labor Safety Consultant Ed Baker to develop a comprehensive safety program and reviews the components at monthly safety meetings.

 “When the president and vice-president attend safety meetings it sends a strong message to the rest of the employees,” Baker said. “At the meetings I’ve attended every employee, even the receptionist, has been in attendance.”

“The managers have a lot of responsibility, and each does an exceptional job in their department,” Hummelstein said.

A daily, weekly and monthly inspection by each department including equipment, facilities and grounds is one aspect of Hummelstein’s safety program.  Another component is the Safety and Health Committee made up of the president, vice-president, controller, departmental managers and production personnel from each department. The safety committee meets once a month and reviews safety inspections, incidents, near-misses and oversees the written safety programs, meetings and training.

Sefton said Hummelstein’s is an example of what happens when a company makes the safety of employees an integral part of the organizational culture.