Crown Equipment manufacturing facility surpasses one million safe hours

The State of North Carolina’s Department of Labor recently honored employees at Crown Equipment Corporation’s Kinston, N.C., manufacturing facility for maintaining an incidence rate at least 50% below the industry standard within its industrial classification sector and for achieving one million employee hours with no injuries or illnesses.

Crown is one of the world’s largest material handling companies. The Kinston location manufactures Crown walkie pallet trucks, walkie pallet stackers, rider pallet trucks and tow tractors.

North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry presented the awards to Jimmy Yelverton, safety and environmental engineer, Crown Equipment, and members of the facility’s Injury Prevention Program (IPP) team during the annual North Carolina Safety Awards Luncheon. This is the seventh consecutive year the Crown facility has been recognized by the state for safety achievements. According to the North Carolina Department of Labor website, “the Safety Awards Program recognizes private firms and public agencies throughout the state that achieve and maintain outstanding safety records. The program is designed to stimulate interest in accident prevention and to promote safety in the workplace by providing an incentive to employers and employees to maintain a safe and healthful workplace.”

Yelverton said, “Safety is a key component in the foundation of our manufacturing approach at Crown Equipment. Kinston employees continue to embrace safety and champion the benefits of doing so throughout our operation. They deserve this recognition, and we’re grateful to the State of North Carolina for honoring our employees. Our ongoing commitment to establishing a safe working environment is powered by employee involvement, management support and a focus on conditional and behavior-based safety.”

In support of the Industrial Truck Association’s National Forklift Safety Day, Crown Equipment recently announced an initiative to call attention to forklift safety champions throughout the supply chain by celebrating the important role each person associated with the manufacture and operation of a forklift plays in making safety a priority. Utilizing the theme, “I am a champion of safety,” Crown is distributing safety-based “call-to-action” materials throughout its retail locations and corporate offices noting the role of design, technology, training, and individual responsibility in taking ownership of safe forklift operation.