Associated Spring’s Saline Plant Earns Recognition for Workplace Safety

The Michigan Occupational and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) awarded Associated Spring’s Saline division with the Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award Thursday. The award is granted to companies that excel in safety beyond other businesses.

“We won the bronze award for lowering injury rates last year. We thought the next milestone was the SHARP, and now we’ll be able to work towards the [Michigan Voluntary Protection Program],” said Health, Safety and Environmental Director Jeff Blake.

The Saline plant is only the 26th company in Michigan to receive the SHARP award. The program is voluntary and requires a dedication to the safety and well-being of employees that is often hard to accomplish. Associated Spring has been working with MIOSHA for over a year to make all of the changes needed to meet the standards of the award.

“(Associated Spring) voluntarily requested our assessment. We had three different consultants working with Associated Spring for the last year. They went through the whole process. It’s a fairly rigorous process, and most companies don’t finish it,” said Nella Davis-Ray, the Consultation Education and Training Division Director for MIOSHA.

Associated Spring has been working to improve the safety of their plant for over two years. Plant Manager Sean Foran has seen issues at other plants he has worked at, and wanted to ensure he does not see them again. He, along with the rest of the staff at the plant, will continue to work on improving safety at the plant. They hope to earn MVPP status in the future.

“It’s not only a good thing from a business standpoint, but it’s the right thing to do. Safety is an area where you are never done; you can continuously improve,” said Foran.

In recognition of the award, Associated Spring was given a flag to display outside their plant as well as a plaque to hang inside of it.