Health and Safety Award Winners Announced

Contact: CRI Communications Department, 706.428.2103

May 18, 2001, DALTON, GA - The CRI Health and Safety program, sponsored annually by the Carpet and Rug Institute, has been completed for 2000, the thirtieth consecutive year for the program.

The purpose of the program is to increase the awareness of safety measures among employers and employees and to support and give recognition to CRI member carpet manufacturing facilities and distribution centers for their outstanding contributions to the health and safety of the employees.

Two hundred and thirty-two participants have earned a total of one hundred and twenty-three (123) safety awards. Award recipients are determined by function and number of employees and are ranked according to the number of occurrences of OSHA incidents and lost-time injuries and illnesses during a twelve-month period.

Werner Braun, President and CEO of the Carpet and Rug Institute presented the awards.

The first place company award for a manufacturing facility was Milliken and Company. First place manufacturing facility awards were presented to the following:

First place for manufacturers with distribution plants was bp Amoco Fabrics and Fibers Company. The first place distribution facility awards were presented to:

Many other manufacturing and distribution centers had outstanding records for safety in 2000, and received accolades from the Carpet and Rug Institute at the Annual Awards Breakfast at the NorthWest Georgia Trade and Convention Center on Friday, May 18.

"We were pleased that the attendance at the breakfast exceeded 150 guests", stated Charlott Coker, manager of human resources for CRI. "That reflected the endorsement and enthusiasm of our members for the safety program."

Keynote speaker for the awards ceremony was Jonathan Worrell, OSHA compliance assistance officer from the Atlanta office.