Nutrien Wins Safety Awards, Beaufort County Government Also Recognized – Washington Daily News

Beaufort County’s largest employer also appears to be among the safest.
Nutrien’s Aurora plant won the Million Hours Award and many more at the Safety Awards Banquet in Greenville.
The award recognizes companies whose employees lost no time due to accidents for one million hours from July 13, 2021 to January 1, 2022.
“Maintaining safe operations to protect everyone on site is our primary goal,” said William Ponton, general manager of Aurora Phosphate. “It embodies our ‘Culture of Care’ commitment to maintaining physical safety and promoting mental and psychological well-being. While we are honored to receive recognition for our safety practices, the best demonstration of this commitment is when our employees return home safely each day.
The plant, which employs 850 people, was also awarded in the following categories: gold medals: the rate of days of absence, transfer or restriction of employment must be at least 50% lower than the average industry.
Nutrien’s accounting, administration & public affairs, health & safety, human resources and materials departments were rewarded for the 25and consecutive year.
The technical department (23rd consecutive year), mine (10and) maintenance-central & solids shipping department (ninth), environmental affairs & pre-scaling departments (eighth), sulfuric acid & grinder departments (seventh), maintenance-instrument & electrical (sixth) computer department (fifth), product distribution (third) maintenance departments of mines and mining services (second).
DFP Department, Purified Acid Plant and Liquid Shipments were recognized for the first time.
The Beaufort County Department of Emergency Services was recognized for the first time, the Department of Health for the third time, and the administrative offices for the sixth year.
“It shows our safety programs are working,” County Executive Brian Alligood said. “Our risk manager, Jennifer Banks, has worked very hard to ensure that our employees go home the same way they came to work. Of course, there are different levels of security within our departments, but we train our employees not to rush, to do their jobs safely, and to take extra precautions if necessary. »
Other county winners include Wimco Corporation (seventh year), Pantego Headquarters of Tideland Electric (fourth), the Washington Unit of the DHHS Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division (third), and the Washington Branch of the parts division of Gregory Poole Equipment Company.
Silver medals are awarded for a rate of days lost from work that must be at least 50% lower than the industry average.
Beaufort County Department of Social Services, Sheriff’s Department and Washington Branch Building Division of Gregory Pool first recognized, Nutrien Phosphoric Acid Department second consecutive year.
“We’ve sponsored the Safety Awards Banquet for many years and it’s always a good opportunity to speak with Department of Labor Commissioner Dobson and his team,” McKeithan said. “It is very clear from his speech to the attendees that we are all in this together. Workplace safety is a responsibility we all share. Our participating employees always enjoy networking with like-minded others and being recognized for their dedication. We have just been recertified as a Carolina Star site by the Department of Labor. This certification and the careful review of our safety practices demonstrate how protecting people and the environment is our daily mission.