On April 15, ABB in Pinetops was recognized for their outstanding safety record by North Carolina’s Commissioner of Labor,Cherie Berry.

The facility received the Gold Award for the third consecutive year. The Gold Award is given to North Carolina companies whose recordable incident rate was less than half of other companies in the state with the same industry code.

It recognizes companies whose efforts have led to a “substantial reduction of injuries and illnesses and the promotion of safer working conditions.” Jon Rennie, General Manager of the facility, commented, “I am very proud of the team here in Pinetops. This award shows that the substantial efforts of our employees to maintain a safe working environment are working. Creating and sustaining a safe workplace is our top priority.”

Present to receive the award were John Hartnett, Environmental Health and Safety Manager; Tom Stallings, Senior Manufacturing Engineer; and Safety Committee members Bettie Conyers, Rufus Walters, Yuthisia Gray, and Dallas Walston.

Dena Saak, ABB’s Health & Safety Director for Power Products North America,

commended the plant for their accomplishment.

“This is an honor for our Pinetops facility to have received this award again this year. It recognizes the safety culture that is present on a daily basis with every employee and they have maintained this for several years.” Darryl Hill, head of Health and Safety for ABB in North America said. “As ABB North America continues to transform its safety culture, I commend Pinetops’ management and employees in fostering a proactive safety process. Receiving the Gold Award for the third consecutive year is an outstanding achievement and one that the site can be quite proud of.

"I look forward to the site achieving continued safety success.”