2003 Safety Award Eligibility & Definitions

Safety Award Levels

Occupational Safety Award Contest

This award recognizes member organizations that have decreased or sustained their occupational injuries and illnesses rate. Through hard work and a commitment to safety, these member organizations and their employees have improved their working conditions and lives. An organization that shows a reduction in or sustains its incidence rate over the preceding calendar year is eligible for a SCWNE Occupational Safety Award. Contest data used is from an organization's incidence rate data as reported on their OSHA 300 Log for the two preceding calendar years' (Example: Awards granted in 2003 reflect a reduction or sustained incidence rate comparing the 2002 calendar year to 2001 calendar year). The formula used to compute the Incident Rate is:

Number of injuries & illnesses x 200,000 = Incidence Rate
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Total hours worked by all employees during period covered

Commercial Vehicle Safety Award Contest

This award recognizes member organizations that have decreased or sustained their commercial vehicle accident rate. Through diligence and a focus on the safe operation of vehicles, these organizations have shown strong concern for the well-being of their employees and the general population who operate vehicles on our streets and highways.

Contestants report all accidents in which a vehicle is involved, unless legally parked within 18 inches of a curb, where such accidents result in personal injury and/or property damage, regardless of who is responsible or how slight the damage. The formula used to compute the Accident Frequency Rate is:

Number of Accidents x 1,000,000 = Accident Frequency Rate
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Divided by Total Miles Operated


Massachusetts Statewide Occupational Safety Awards Contest

The Massachusetts Statewide Occupational Safety Awards Contest is open to any organization residing in Massachusetts and that is a member of one of the three safety councils in Massachusetts. An organization may submit an entry for the entire organization or for separate plants or divisions - but not both. Awards are based on the lost workday incidence rate as published by the BLS. Member organization's entering the contest cannot exceed the BLS' published incidence rate. Organizations are grouped by size and Standard Industry Code (SIC) and an award is granted to an organization in each size group with the lowest rate or, in the event of a tie, to the organizations that tie with the lowest rates. The following reflects how organizations are grouped by size:

Small = Under 100 employees
Medium = 101 to 500 employees
Large = Over 500 employees with at least one million hours worked
Extra Large = over ten million hours worked

There are three statewide award categories:

Group Safety Award / Chairman's Award / Grand Trophy Award


Group Safety Award

Organizations that enter this competition compete based on size within their specific SIC code. The winner in each size group is the organization with the lowest lost workday incidence rate. If two or more organizations tie with a zero rate - all tied organizations will receive awards (number of employees or work hours has no bearing on the selection process).

Chairman's Award

There are four Chairman's Awards granted to the best performing small, medium, large and extra-large entrants that are runners up to the Grand Trophy Award winners (assuming a sufficient number of entrants) that meet the award criteria). This selection process for the Chairman's Award excludes SIC, and is based on size and the incidence rate used in the Grand Trophy Award process. The National Incident Rate reflects the complexities of each company's industry and is key when comparing companies to determine winners.

Grand Trophy Award

There is one Grand Trophy Award winner and all Group Safety Award winners compete for this award. The criteria used includes lost workday incidence rate, difference between the firm's rate and the BLS rate and length of time since the last lost workday.

Connecticut Statewide Occupational Safety Award Contest

The Connecticut Statewide Occupational Safety Awards Contest is open to any organization residing in Connecticut and that is a member of the Safety Council of Western New England. An organization may submit an entry for the entire organization or for separate plants or divisions - but not both. Awards are based on the lost workday incidence rate as published by the BLS. Member organization's entering the contest cannot exceed the BLS' published incidence rate. Organizations are grouped by size and SIC and awards are granted to an organization in each group with the lowest rate or, in the event of a tie, to the organizations that tie with the lowest rates. The remaining criteria for each award category are the same as what is used in the Massachusetts Statewide Occupational Safety Awards Contest section covered above.

Confidentiality

Contest data submitted to the Safety Council of Western New England will be treated as confidential and proprietary information and will not be released to third parties. The Safety Council of Western New England's Executive Director and Board of Director's hold the final decision on eligibility and the granting of safety awards.