A.O. Smith recognized for safety

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

On hand Friday morning as A.O. Smith was recognized for workplace safety were, front row, from left, Jerry Cooper, Charles Smith and Mike Magill. Second row, Brenda Knight, Steve Hawkins, Herb Pirkey and John Winkler. (James Clark photo)

Along with being one of Warren County’s top employers, A.O. Smith now has another distinction.

On Friday, A.O. Smith became the first-ever company in Tennessee to receive the Award of Excellence for Workplace Safety in two consecutive years. The award was presented by Mike Magill, the state commissioner for Labor and Workforce Development.

“The evaluation criterion for this award is ambitious,” said Magill. “And A.O. Smith has worked conscientiously to meet and exceed the standards the award requires. It is quite and honor to achieve this award two years in a row.”

State Sen. Jerry Cooper was among a handful of representatives on hand Friday as A.O. Smith employee Charles Smith received the honor on behalf of plant employees. Smith has worked at the facility 37 years.

The Award off Excellence for Workplace Safety is given to any Tennessee employer who has experienced 250 continuous work days, or 1 million hours, during the calendar year without workplace injuries serious enough to cause an employee to miss a day of work.

A.O. Smith has had no lost time to work injuries since September.

“This award not only recognizes the effort each of our employees puts into keeping McMinnville safe, but it underscores the priority we place on maintaining accident-free facilities,” said A.O. Smith president Donald Heinrich, who pointed out the local plant exceeded the 1 million-hour threshold twice last year.

A.O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., and employs approximately 14,800 people to manufacture electric motors and water heaters. The local plant has around 800 employees.