Smurfit-Stone Mill Acheives Safety Milestones

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation’s Stevenson, Ala., mill recently achieved two safety milestones by reaching one full year and one million hours worked without a recordable incident as measured by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA).  It is the first time the mill has attained either mark.

“Smurfit-Stone has led our industry in safety for the past two years as measured by the American Forest & Paper Association, and the accomplishments at our Stevenson mill demonstrate how successful we can be when there is a daily focus on safety,” said Patrick J. Moore, Smurfit-Stone chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Our company’s belief is that safety is everyone’s responsibility, and that no matter how good our safety record might be, we can always find ways to improve.”

Smurfit-Stone’s Stevenson mill annually produces approximately 830,000 tons of corrugating medium and employs about 430 people. The mill is an OSHA Volunteer Protection Program (VPP) Star site, which means OSHA has recognized the facility as having superior safety and health systems and processes in place for measuring and improving safety.  Stevenson is one of approximately 25 U.S. pulp and paper mills recognized by OSHA as a VPP site.

The mill has partnered with OSHA as a VPP site since 1994.  As part of Stevenson’s comprehensive safety and health system, the mill has a member-driven behavioral based safety process, known as BASS (Behaviors Are Stevenson’s Strengths), that encourages members to participate in safety observations and provide feedback regarding safe work practices.

“All of our members deserve to be recognized for their involvement in safety,” said Roger Hagan, general manager of the Stevenson mill.  “Safety is at the core of our culture, and we have been able to reach these milestones as a result of each member’s daily commitment to working safely.”