MUMBAI, India—Eleven Birla Carbon plants worldwide recently received the International Carbon Black Association's Gold Award, the highest award for excellence in safety, while the company's research and development laboratory in Marietta, Ga., also earned the distinction. A 12th plant received bronze award status from the ICBA's Safety Recognition Program.
To achieve gold award recognition, facilities must:
- Have had zero lost work days due to accident or injury during the previous calendar year;
- Demonstrated more than 50 percent improvement in safety over the previous year;
- Have had no accidents or fires that resulted in more than 100,000 worth of damage;
- Received no citations for safety-related events, audits or activities;
- Received safety certification from a third party; and
- Achieved at least three years without a lost work day as a result of accident or safety incident.
The bronze award is given to facilities that have had zero lost work days as a result of an injury or accident in the previous calendar year.
"At Birla Carbon, safety is a key component of everything we do," Joe Gaynor, Birla's chief legal, risk and sustainability officer, said in a statement. "Our policies and processes are written and implemented (while) keeping in mind the safety of our people, safe handling of carbon black and safe management of the manufacturing facilities."
Part of the Aditya Birla Group, Birla Carbon operates 16 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries, producing specialty carbon blacks or a number of end markets such as tires, rubber, inks and coatings.
Formed in 1977, the ICBA is dedicated to promoting safety throughout the carbon black industry by recognizing industry-leading safety practices and conducting inspections, research and analysis. The association routinely recognizes carbon black producers who demonstrate leadership in the area of safety, and its safety recognition program identifies factories that have achieved excellent safety records.