The Bridgestone Americas Inc. passenger and light truck tire manufacturing plant in Wilson, N.C. has received certification as a Rising Star facility from the North Carolina Department of Labor.
The Rising Star Program is part of North Carolina’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Carolina Star Program, which is similar to the federal government’s OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
“Safety is ingrained in all operations at Bridgestone, and the teammates at our Wilson Plant have done an exceptional job of proving that by being named a Rising Star facility,” says Christine Karbowiak, acting chief human resources officer and executive vice president. “Our high level of commitment to safety is a common goal among all teammates, from leadership to the plant floor where we manufacture tires in the safest way possible, so we can provide our customers with high-quality, safe tires.”
The Wilson Plant implemented a teammate-driven safety program and demonstrated long-term injury and illness results that were significantly better than the averages for the tire and rubber industry. The plant then partnered with the North Carolina Department of Labor to complete the application and on-site evaluation processes to become certified. NCDOL staff conducted 37 hours of on-site evaluation and 250 teammate interviews. During that process all elements of the plant’s safety program and all areas of the facility were reviewed to ensure that Rising Star criteria had been met.
The Carolina Star Program is designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management systems. The Rising Star certification recognizes worksites that have strong safety and health programs.
“Being a Rising Star shows the community that you are committed to a safe work environment,” says North Carolina Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry.
Bridgestone's Wilson plant was the first tire plant to earn ISO 50001 certification, reach Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Mature Pathway certification and achieve Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) landfill waste diversion claim validation for Zero Waste to Landfill. The plant celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. To learn more about Bridgestone, and the Wilson, N.C. plant, visit www.bridgestoneamericas.com.
