Johnson Controls receives Governor’s Safety and Health Award

Employees exceed 1 million hours without lost-time injury at Shelbyville facility

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (July 16, 2012) – Johnson Controls Inc., whose employees have worked 1,251,877 hours without a “lost-time” injury or illness, today was presented with a Governor’s Safety and Health Award.

Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson and Labor Cabinet Secretary Mark Brown presented the award to company officials and employees during a ceremony and plant tour at the Shelbyville facility.

“The Labor Cabinet recognizes employers who operate exemplary safety and health management systems and are committed to making safety for employees a priority,” Abramson said. “I am delighted to be here today to recognize Johnson Control’s significant achievements in safety.”

The award is given to employers and employees who together have achieved a specified streak of hours worked without a recordable injury or illness.

Brown said Johnson Controls uses a team approach to safety.

“Every employee — from the production floor to upper management — takes a proactive approach to solving problems that could cause injuries by investigating near misses and significant first aid injuries.”

Melanie Wire, health and safety coordinator at Johnson Controls, said employees have many avenues to voice their concerns about safety.

“We have a cross functional safety team which includes a production associate from each shift. We also have monthly roundtable meetings, where several associates are randomly selected to have lunch with the managers to discuss any concerns or ideas for improvement in any area,” she said.

“In addition, associates are encouraged to discuss their concerns with their supervisor, the health and safety coordinator, the shift superintendent, or any manager, including the plant manager, Wire added. “Our corporate office also takes safety very seriously — details of recordable and near miss incidents are frequently shared with other Johnson Controls plants. Also, ideas to prevent injuries are shared with other plants as Best Business Practices.”

Johnson Controls’ Shelbyville facility employs 230 during two shifts and manufactures seats for the Ford F250 and larger trucks at the Ford Kentucky Plant in Louisville.