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Manufacturing Safety Grants Save Lives and Money

April 8, 2022 • Missouri Employers Mutual

Missouri Employers Mutual’s Safety Grant program provides policyholders financial reimbursement for the purchase of approved products and/or equipment that can reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses. For every $1 policyholders are willing to invest, we’ll match it for approved initiatives from $500 to $10,000 for those selected to receive an award.

Manufacturing safety grants in action

See how three manufacturing businesses used their safety grant funds to improve workplace safety.

Columbia Construction Company

Columbia Construction Company manufactures furniture and custom cabinetry for multiple industries such as education, healthcare, hospitality management, restaurants, retail, etc. With their safety grant funds, Columbia Construction Company purchased a Schmalz Jumbo Ergo 85 Vacuum Tube Lifter with Bridge Crane System to provide a more ergonomic working environment and prevent injuries caused by repetitive lifting and moving heavy loads.

In their factory, cabinets and furniture are designed on a computer and then sent to an operator who moves the raw materials, such as plywood, to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router for cutting. On average, 40-80 sheets of material are lifted onto the CNC router table for cutting each day. The vacuum lift on the overhead crane system allows the operator to lift and maneuver each sheet of material effortlessly and accurately from a safe distance onto the router table. The implementation of the lift has reduced manual labor and increased productivity. The raw materials are now stored so the operator can reach them with the crane system instead of stopping production to move materials with a forklift. There has also been less damage to raw materials from human error.

Mid America Precast, Inc.

Mid America Precast, Inc. produces architectural and utility precast concrete products such as beams, columns, interior or exterior wall panels, and retaining wall panels for parking garages, warehouses, hospitals, schools, etc. In its production facilities, architectural precast components are cast face down. Once the concrete forms are set, the rebar is placed, and the concrete is poured. The concrete is then “consolidated” by vibrating to eliminate air bubbles and voids present in the concrete mix. This process is often completed manually using a handheld vibrator or a vibrating screed.

Due to multiple claims from vibrating injuries, Mid America Precast used its safety grant funds to purchase a custom Deca Brecon SL Series Table Mounted Vibrating System. A custom system implementation allowed for the use of existing casting tables. Deca Brecon vibrators were mounted to the bottom of the casting tables allowing operators to run table zones remotely. Completely eliminating the use of handheld vibrators and vibrating screeds. Before implementation, the company estimated they experienced at least one near-miss incident a month due to employees using heavy handheld tools in the consolidation process. Since the implementation, the company has not reported any claims.

StoneTrends LLC

StoneTrends is a fully automated stone countertop fabrication facility. Stone countertop fabrication involves cutting and polishing large slabs of quartz and granite using computerized saws and CNC routers equipped with diamond blades and waterjet cutters. Water is required in the process to prevent blade overheating and to reduce the amount of airborne silica dust. Prolonged employee exposure to airborne silica dust can lead to silicosis, a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica.

To keep airborne silica dust below permissible exposure limits, StoneTrends purchased a Tennent T600 walk-behind floor scrubber with their safety grant funds. The floor scrubber features Diamabrush technology, an advanced wet orbital scrubbing method specifically designed to remove any silica dust that may have settled on the factory floor with the potential to re-circulate. StroneTrends believes the scrubber implementation is another step toward being proactive in preventing employee illness while maintaining a clean and healthy work environment.

All of MEM’s policyholders are eligible for a safety grant, regardless of premium size or claims history. Successful applicants earn one-to-one matching grants up to $10,000 toward approved safety initiatives. Policyholders are required to monitor claims data and report on the success of the safety grant so MEM can help other businesses learn from their success.

You can read even more safety grant success stories on our blog. Visit our Safety Grants page to learn more about the program and how policyholders can apply.

Date
April 8, 2022
Author
Missouri Employers Mutual
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