Local Teijin Automotive Technologies facility recognized for excellence in Environmental, Health & Safety Practices

Manchester’s Teijin Automotive plant on West Austin Road received one of the company’s prestigious Environmental Health and Safety awards.

submitted by Teijan Automotive Technologies

Teijin Automotive Technologies last week announced the winners of its 2022 Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Awards program.

Teijin’s Manchester facility, located on West Austin Road in Manchester Township, was named Most Improved EH&S Program, for a small facility. The Most Improved EH&S Program Award, presented in both large and small facility categories, is awarded to facilities that exemplify significant improvement in EH&S performance year over year. This facility employs more than 75 people, according to Kim Zitny, Teijin’s director of global communications.

Other 2022 winners included EH&S Sustainability Awards to plants located in Lenoir, North Carolina; Pouancé, France; Sarepta, Louisiana; and Tijuana, Baja California, México. This is the top award, given only to facilities that achieve and sustain world-class EH&S practices and results for a minimum of three consecutive years. The most improved EH&S Program for a large facility was the Conneaut, Ohio, plant. The Leça do Balio, Portugal, facility was named the Best EH&S Program for a small facility, while the Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, facility was named the Best EH&S Program for a large facility. This award recognizes plants that have successfully embedded EH&S as a core value, integrating it into every aspect of work and demonstrating a commitment to worker safety and continuous performance improvement.

These facilities were selected from Teijin Automotive Technologies’ 22 global manufacturing locations. Now in its seventh year, Teijin Automotive Technologies’ EH&S Awards Program is an elite, behavioral-based recognition program that acknowledges facilities for their commitment and contributions to employee safety, the environment, the communities in which they operate, and overall EH&S program excellence.

To be eligible for any of the award categories, nominated programs must demonstrate:

• Reduction in workplace hazards
• Increase in near-miss reporting
• No significant injuries
• Exceptional Environmental and Safety Audits
• Implementation of job safety improvements
• No chemical spills or releases to the environment
• No enforcement actions during the year to the time of the award announcement

“There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our employees, and this program emphasizes that importance,” said Dina Graham, vice president, Environmental Legal Affairs, Health, Safety and Sustainability. “The winning facilities are those operating with a leadership-driven, employee-embraced safety program that’s changing the culture of the workplace.”

“Any workplace injury to an employee is one too many,” said CEO Chris Twining. “Our ultimate goal is to achieve zero injuries across the board. These winning facilities deserve recognition for their continued commitment to improving their safety records and reducing their environmental impact while achieving positive business results. We will continue to set the bar high, continually improve our safety and environmental practices, and achieve a workplace where no one gets hurt.”

Each of the winning facilities will celebrate with a formal, on-site awards luncheon with Twining, Graham, and other company executives, and will receive an engraved award to showcase at their facility.

Teijin Automotive Technologies specializes in the development and production of advanced composite components — including carbon and glass fiber — for the global automotive and transportation industries and is an integral part of the Teijin Group of companies. The company is a worldwide leader in composite formulations with a focus on providing automakers with lightweight, durable products that enable design and packaging flexibility. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., USA, Teijin Automotive Technologies has 29 operations in 8 countries and employs more than 5,000 people. For more information visit Teijinautomotive.com.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.