Injury rates drop

Injury rates in the factory have dropped significantly over the last four years, from 4.14 accidents per 100 workers to 2.35 so far this year.

Moreover, missed days have decreased from 1.33 days to .39 days per 100 employees.

Chris Anderson, director of safety, attributed the remarkable decreases to more emphasis on safety and a partnership in which IAM-represented workers are taking an active role in safety awareness and accident prevention. He said last year’s Near Miss Madness campaign has helped raise awareness of safety hazards before they become a problem.

The statistics from the Near Miss Madness campaign in 2022 reflected a strong relationship between report issues and reduction in injuries. From April 2022, when the Near Miss Madness campaign started, until end of February 2023, the number of accidents dropped from 3.63 per 100 employees to 2.02 per 100 employees, a decrease of nearly 80%, while missed workdays dropped from 1.05 per 100 employees to .32 – again, almost 80%.

“Our Near Miss Madness reporting is a significant indicator showing the involvement of our of people on the shop floor in helping prevent injuries on the job,” he said. “We want people to go home that same way they came to work.”

He added, “Our goal is to have 11,000 safety folks involved in creating a safe work environment here in Wichita.”