PROFILE Products LLC’s Blue Mountain manufacturing plant employees will celebrate 750,000 consecutive hours without a lost-time accident, a streak that began March 7, 2002.



A luncheon with employees, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) officials and county dignitaries to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishment is planned for noon July 15 at the plant, 7250 Highway 15.

"Celebrating this safety accomplishment is truly something special,” commented John Schoch, president and CEO of Profile Products. “We work very hard across all of our businesses to make safety our top priority, and our colleagues in Blue Mountain have led the way by their example. Each of us are indebted to them for their leadership.”



Reaching 750,000 hours without a lost-time accident is not an easy feat. In fact, Dwight Schipke, director of manufacturing operations, who has worked at Profile’s Blue Mountain surface mine for 21 years, said reaching this benchmark is a rarity.



"To not have recorded a lost-time accident in more than eight years is a testament to the commitment to safety Profile emphasizes throughout its ranks day in and day out,” said Schipke. “This is a big deal for the plant, our employees, their families, and for the entire community.”

The Blue Mountain plant, under Profile’s ownership since Nov. 1, 1986, has a long history of safety awareness. A culture of safety among the plant’s 41 employees includes biweekly safety meetings to train employees on safety measures. Monthly safety tours check for machine deficiencies and ensure employees have safe access to equipment.



The manufacturing facility is one of three owned by Profile nationwide. The plant mines, processes and distributes clay primarily to companies in the sports turf and golf industry. Profile’s other two plants are located in Conover, N.C., and Limestone, Tenn.



Schipke said he is looking forward to reaching the plant’s next goal of 1 million hours worked without a lost-time accident.



“I’ve only been part of one operation that celebrated 1 million safe hours in my 34-year career in the mining industry and I am looking forward to ours in a few years,” he said.