2008
Montana Governor's Safety & Health
Awards Program
PURPOSE
The Governor’s Award for Health and Safety recognizes the commitment to excellence in workplace safety and health. It promotes greater awareness of workplace health and safety issues across the state and offers the opportunity for leaders to share model programs.
AWARDS
The Governor’s Awards for Health and Safety are the highest honor given by the State of Montana in recognition of health and safety excellence. If you feel your company models safety and health systems, we encourage you to seek this recognition.
Winners are recognized at a formal awards ceremony during the Annual Governor’s Conference on Workers Compensation and Occupational Safety & Health and are presented with a banner and plaque for display at the work site. The Lt. Governor and the Commissioner of Labor presented the 2008 awards.
AWARD CATEGORIES
· Large Private Employer of the Year (75 or more employees)
· Large Public Employer of the Year (75 or more employees)
· Small Private Employer of the Year (Fewer than 75 employees)
· Small Public Employer of the Year (Fewer than 75 employees)
· Mines and Sand & Gravel Operations (All)
2008 WINNERS
Large Private Employer of the Year
(75 or more employees)
ConocoPhillips Billings Refinery
ConocoPhillips Refinery, Billings has been a recipient of the National Petrochemical & Refiner's Association’s Annual Safety Conference in Houston for the last two years, and company with a record of 600 days running without a recordable worker injury. ConocoPhillips Refinery places workplace safety and health at the top.
Whether at regular safety meetings or day to day interactions between managers, supervisors, and workers, ConocoPhillips exemplifies leadership by example.
Presently in the process of earning OSHA's prestigious Voluntary Protection Program, VPP designation, ConocoPhillips Refinery continues to look for new ways to protect and care for workers by instilling a culture where safety is a way of doing business.
Large Public Employer of the Year
(75 or more employees)
Missoula County Public Schools
Missoula County Public Schools has exemplified vision and leadership in work place safety and health. All employees attend training as new hires, whenever there is a change in process, and annually as part of a comprehensive training strategy.
Whether investing in new equipment and tools to prevent injury and illness, setting aside the resources to provide for a professional safety and health staff, Missoula County Public Schools embodies leadership and commitment from the top down.
It's no coincidence that their success has led to a $78,000 reduction in their annual worker's compensation premium."
Small Private Employer of the Year
(Fewer than 75 employees)
TransBas Inc., Billings
In 2005, Transbas' newest General Manager made it clear: workplace safety and health would be part of the company culture. To back that up, a professional safety manager was brought in and a comprehensive and multi-faceted safety and health system began to form.
Injuries and illness rates saw a precipitous drop and days away from work and restricted time rates were cut by 88%.
Accountability for safety and health is realized at each and every level throughout the company. Workers hold safety and health to be a value and this has resulted in $250,000 reduction in annual worker compensation premiums, a 10% increase in production, and an all around improved quality of life for the company workforce.
Small Public Employer of the Year
(Fewer than 75 employees)
Ravalli County Road and Bridge Dept.
Ravalli County Road and Bridge Department has put the SLAM on workplace safety and health accidents. Stop, Look, Analyze, Manage. S, L, A, M.
Confronted with a safety and health record near the bottom of Montana's counties, Ravalli's Road Department set a vision and developed policies and procedures to reduce safety incidents, increase productivity, and improve workplace morale.
They succeeded! By setting aside funding for safety initiatives, and using innovative techniques to improve awareness, Ravalli Road and Bridge saw an annual drop of $180,000 in worker compensation benefits paid out. Recognized by the Montana Association of Counties for this success, Ravalli County Road and Bridge now stands out as a leader in safety and health.
Mines and Sand & Gravel Operations
(All)
Rio Tinto Minerals, Three Forks
Rio Tinto, with a total recordable injury and missed worked rate of zero, is a shining example of what happens when safety and health systems are developed and put into action. With a management team recognizing the value of safety, Rio Tinto's safety and health achievements are the gold-standard.
A recent recipient of the Industrial Minerals Association Safety Achievement Award, Rio Tinto continues to achieve success in preventing injury and illness. 200,000 man-hours without a loss time incident bears this out.
With classroom and on-site training, formation of safety action teams, a worker safety suggestion program, a safety interaction program where co-workers observe work practices and provide feedback, Rio Tinto stands out as an innovator and leader in workplace safety and health.
…And the Governor’ Cup Award Goes To…
ConocoPhillips Billings Refinery
This special award recognizes safety and health initiatives which have gone above and beyond, and have strived to make safety a way of life, both at work and at home. The winner holds a beautiful hand-cut crystal cup for one year. At the end of the year, “The Cup” will be passed to the newest winner.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!
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