In May, MEM announced its eighth cycle of safety grant recipients and awarded a total of $210,000 to 28 policyholders in Missouri for the implementation of new safety equipment to promote safer workplaces. This brings the total amount of safety grants awarded to $1.53 million since 2016.
“It’s an unprecedented time for many of us, but our policyholders can always count on our commitment to safety,” said Jim Owen, President and CEO of MEM. “We are proud to continue the safety grants program because we know many businesses are tightening their belts, and we don’t want funding to stand in the way of keeping people safe.”
All of MEM’s nearly 17,000 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 equipment purchased with safety grant funds, so MEM can help other businesses learn from their success.
For Car-Anth Manufacturing, the safety grant means reducing the risk for pinch-point injuries in their welding operation. Pinch-point injuries are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries which involve being caught in or struck by moving machinery.
“We are very excited about this safety grant award,” said John Klorer, vice president of Car-Anth Manufacturing. “This is a welder that is really going to be a trend setter in the spot-welding department and MEM’s award is definitely a tipping point for us to embrace the new technology.”
Car-Anth was founded in 1940, and the St. Louis manufacturing facility provides machining, fabrication and welding services.
Steadfast Transcontinent Inc. wanted to find a way to reduce the likelihood of back strain after changing the tires. Strains and sprains make up 50% of injuries in the trucking industry and are the most costly. The cargo and freight company received a safety grant for their purchase of a tire changing machine.
“On behalf of our guys in the shop changing tires every day and my wife and myself, we really appreciate the grant,” said Ricky Bibbs, president and owner of Steadfast Transcontinent. “It takes a lot of manpower to break down the tires with hand tools and the machine really speeds up the process. We promised the guys we would get one the last time one of them hurt his back and now, with the economic situation, this is a real blessing.”
Located in Hornersville, Missouri, Steadfast was founded in 1988 and is licensed to run 25 trucks.
The following businesses were selected to receive safety grants in MEM’s eighth cycle:
| Alpha Packaging | St. Louis | Automatic sweeper system to remove contents from large bins reducing strain/sprain injuries |
| Culligan Water Conditioning | Columbia | Electric stairclimber hand truck reduces back strain and slip, trip, fall hazards |
| Steadfast Transcontinent Inc. | Hornersville | Industrial tire changer to reduce back strain/sprain |
| Potter Electric Signal Co. LLC | Hazelwood | Manufacturing robot reduces strains/sprains from handling heavy materials |
| David Fromme Excavation | Holts Summit | Aluminum trench box with pipe laser to reduce employee exposure to cave ins during excavation work. |
| Coast to Coast Signs | Scott City | Articulating boom lift to reduce fall hazard |
| Lincoln County Ambulance District | Troy | Patient lifting system designed to allow proper team lifting of patients |
| Friends of the Zoo Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri | Kansas City | Work utility vehicle with snow removal blade to reduce injuries caused by snow shoveling |
| Pony Bird Inc. | Mapaville | Patient handling system used to reduce back strain/sprain while positioning patients |
| Klocke Inc. | Palmyra | Trench box to reduce the risk of caught between injuries |
| Raytown Fire | Raytown | Power load system to reduce back injury risk when handling patients |
| Executive Coach Builders Inc. | Springfield | Saw stop industrial cabinet saw with push blocks alleviates finger/hand amputation |
| Owensville Area Ambulance District | Owensville | MTS power load system to reduce back strain risk when handling patients |
| Car-Anth Manufacturing | St. Louis | Welding system to reduce pinch point injuries |
| StoneTrends LLC | Chesterfield | Walk behind floor scrubber to reduce silica exposure in a manufacturing environment |
| Bootheel Fence Co. | Jackson | Walk behind skid steer to reduce back strain/sprain |
| Square Up Builders | St. Louis | Electric scissor lift eliminates use of scaffolds and ladders |
| Hillsboro Fire Protection District | Hillsboro | Remote controlled water canon will reduce potential for falls from the apparatus |
| Rockin S Farms LLC | Florence | Yard tractor that reduces fall hazards from the cab |
| Flynn Drilling Company | Troy | Articulating boom lift to reduce fall hazard |
| GME Supply | Columbia | Conveyor system with pallet carousel to reduce back strain/sprain |
| Foam Supplies Inc | Earth City | Railcar mobile access platform with safety cage to reduce fall hazard |
| Affton Fire Protection District | St Louis | Large diameter fire hose roller to reduce back strain when rolling hoses |
| New Century Armored | Hazelwood | Lift table to reduce back injury when lifting heavy items |
| Cole County PWSD #4 | Jefferson City | Confined space entry equipment to ensure a safe breathing environment and emergency retrieval system |
| Mitchell Tree Company | Lathrop | Bucket truck to reduce fall hazards |
| Mid America Truss | Jefferson City | New press with no rail system to reduce slip, trip, fall hazard |
| Redings Mill Fire Protection District | Joplin | Large diameter fire hose roller with drainage system to reduce back injuries |
Learn more about our SafetySMARTS Safety Grants program and how to apply.