• KMS achieves all-time low incident rate of .28
WILMINGTON, MA, Sept. 25, 2007 -- Koch Membrane Systems Inc. (KMS), a developer and manufacturer of innovative membranes and membrane filtration systems, is the first place recipient of the "Best in Class" Group Safety Award for the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Northern Connecticut regions for the second consecutive year.
Each year the National Safety Council charges its state and regional chapters to recognize member companies that have achieved a certain level of safety excellence in each Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. KMS is classified as a heavy manufacturing company along with 36 other companies. Of those companies in the region, KMS was awarded first place with an incident rate of .28 for 2006. This is significantly lower than the current national average of 3.1, a number that is published each year by the US Bureau of Labor Accident Statistics.
"We are very excited that the Safety Council has recognized our ongoing efforts to keep our workers, the environment and our facilities safe," said Don Olesen, director of environmental, health and safety at KMS. "We are proud that our low incident statistics indicate that fewer of our people are being injured at work, and that our efforts to provide a safe workplace are effective. We recognize that our program is only as good as the people who take ownership and participate in our safety effort, and our success is truly due to high levels of employee participation."
In an effort to keep incident levels down, all KMS departments host weekly and monthly meetings to update the staff on safety issues, and awards are given to employees who develop innovative ways to promote workplace safety. Additionally, the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Committee and Executive Safety Steering Committee each meet on a monthly basis to discuss safe practices. These meetings are used as a forum for employees to receive safety literature and voice safety concerns. Through these extensive safety guidelines and practices, KMS has decreased its annual incident rate from 2005's winning incident rate of .76.
Koch Membrane Systems Inc. has been a global leader in separation and filtration products for more than 30 years. KMS designs and manufactures state-of-the-art membrane cartridges and elements, as well as complete membrane systems
###
