TULSA, OK — Thanks to ongoing training and a continuous improvement, safety-minded culture, Linde Engineering North America's (LENA) Port of Catoosa fabrication facility has successfully operated four years without a recordable safety incident or injury.
"This is a remarkable accomplishment and one the entire LENA family is very proud of," said President and CEO Jason Cooper. "A commitment to safety not only keeps our employees healthy, but also contributes to our customers receiving the best possible products and service. I applaud each and every member of our fabrication shop for their commitment to safety and quality."
Management of LENA's fabrication shop credits a number of factors to its safety record. According to Eric Sandefur, head of manufacturing, this includes training activities, workplace signage, communication and a commitment to continuous improvement.
"I am extremely proud of our team for exceeding 1,457 days and 1,000,000 hours of safe work," said Sandefur. "Our employees are very intentional about improving any and every process for the sake of safety and efficiency. Safety is in our DNA."
Sandefur says LENA follows the principles of continuous improvement and conducts multiple kaizen events throughout the year to examine opportunities to improve operations and create a safe work environment. The company also keeps it's "Golden Rules of Safety" at the forefront of all operations including office employees who do not have hands-on manufacturing or construction duties.
A recordable incident is considered any work-related fatality, any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, and any injury or illness that requires medical treatment beyond first aid.
LENA's main fabrication facility encompasses 126,000 square feet and employs approximately 130 full-time and contract employees. The facility is located in the industrial park of the Port of Catoosa, one of the largest, most inland river ports in the United States. Located on the Arkansas River, the Port of Catoosa can transport prefabricated modules on rail, road or oceangoing barges to global markets via the Port of New Orleans.