Washington — Plastic and paper packaging maker Novolex has been named the Plastics Industry Association's safety company of the year, with ACS Group and Printpack Inc. also getting site-specific recognition.
The awards were announced Oct. 28 by the Washington-based association, as part of its recognition of 121 industry facilities honored as part of its Safety Statistics and Awards program.
The trade group launched four new categories this year for specific firms or individuals as part of the SSA program. Novolex, in Hartsville, S.C., won the inaugural Safety Company of the Year award.
Auxiliary equipment maker ACS Group in New Berlin, Wis., was named winner in the equipment category for the site-based Leaders of Safety Award, while Atlanta-based Printpack's facility in Bloomington, Ind., won in the processor category.
Besides winning company of the year, two Novolex employees won individual awards: Ivan Marquez, regional EHS manager, was recognized with the Rising Safety Professional award, and Matt Carter, director of health and safety, was honored as the Safety Professional of the Year by the association.
"The winners of our new awards have all demonstrated exemplary commitments to the welfare of their colleagues by driving proactive and preventive safety initiatives at the forefront of their business," said Marie Gargas, senior technical director, regulatory affairs, for the association.
The winners will be recognized at the Nov. 13-15 meeting of the association's EHS+ Committee in Savannah, Ga. or at an event at their facility. The association said companies can enter next year's SSA awards from Jan. 6 to Feb. 21.