EQ – The Environmental Quality Company’s (EQ) Site in Belleville received the CET Bronze Award for an outstanding safety and health record from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
“We are honored to present this award to the EQ Belleville Site for providing their workers with a safe and healthy work environment,” said Steve Arwood, LARA Deputy Director. “This award recognizes their outstanding efforts to protect their workers, while providing exemplary environmental and waste management services to their customers.”
The MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division recognizes the safety and health achievements of Michigan employers and employees through CET Awards, which are based on excellent safety and health performance. The CET Bronze Award recognizes leadership and commitment to workplace safety and health resulting in significant improvement of their MIOSHA record.
CET Division Director Nella Davis-Ray presented the award to David Lusk, President & CEO; Jasen Campbell, Operations Safety Team Leader; Larry Lekity, Technical Safety Team Leader; and the site Health and Safety Committees. Corporate officials, employees and invited guests attended the ceremony.
“EQ is committed to the health and safety of our employees, our customers and the general public every day,” stated Lusk. “It is predicated on our core values and accomplished through our corporate-wide Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety (QEHS) management system. I am proud to accept this award on behalf of our employees at the Belleville site and commend them for their outstanding safety efforts.”
The company has completed the following criteria to receive the Bronze Award:
• Reduced their injury/illness incident rate by more than 50 percent within the last three calendar years;
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system;
• Established a safety and health committee, with both employee and management participation;
• Developed an employee training system, with an emphasis on how to do the work in a safe and healthful manner; and
• Worked diligently to change their workplace culture to reflect the importance of worker safety.
The EQ Belleville Site, consisting of their Michigan Disposal and Wayne Disposal facilities, is classified under NAICS code 562211 – Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal. Companies in this high-hazard NAICS code are primarily engaged in operating treatment and/or disposal facilities for hazardous waste. The Site significantly reduced their incident rates over the last three years. Their total recordable case (TRC) rates were 2.0 in 2008, 0.0 in 2009, and 1.1 in 2010, compared to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry average of 7.0 in 2008, and 2.1 in 2009 and 2010. Their total day’s away/restricted cases (DART) rates were 2.0 in 2008, 0.0 in 2009, and 1.1 in 2010, compared to the BLS industry average of 3.5 in 2008, and 1.5 in 2009 and 2010.
The EQ Belleville Site employs 103 workers and has a well developed safety and health system and an active Health and Safety Committee. CET Senior Safety Consultant Jennifer Clark-Denson conducted a hazard survey at the plant. This allowed the company the opportunity to walk through the facility with a MIOSHA representative and correct problem areas that were noted.
“Companies that establish an integrated safety and health program reap the benefits of significantly reducing their injury and illness rates,” said Davis-Ray. “Reducing these rates not only protects employees – it has a healthy impact on a company’s bottom line.”
According to their Mission Statement, EQ is committed to being recognized as the best provider of environmental management services. In the safety area, EQ is committed to:
• Ensuring a safe and healthy environment for EQ Associates, customers and the public;
• Complying with all applicable laws, regulations and other requirements to which they subscribe;
• Continually improving their integrated Quality, Environmental, and Health & Safety Management Systems; and
• Educating, training and motivating their EQ Associates.