7/17/07 -- Cohoes, NY – Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. is pleased to announce that its New York operations have surpassed 2 million safe work hours, going over two full years without a lost time injury.
In further safety news, Mohawk was recently presented with the Workers Compensation Safety Award by Liberty Mutual Group.   Mohawk’s Cohoes Mill and Waterford Mill each received Liberty’s Gold Award for their total incident rates and no lost workday incidents.  Mohawk’s Specialty Converting Center and its Albany Distribution Center received Liberty’s Commendation award for having no lost workday incident rates.  These awards are presented to only 2% of Liberty’s customers.
According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), which is the oldest and largest provider of workers compensation and employee injury data and statistics in the nation, Mohawk has a lost time incident rate that is 80% better than the industry average for paper manufacturing companies in 40 of the U.S. states.
“This is a significant accomplishment.  This means that for the last calendar year we have achieved an exemplary safety record.  More importantly, it means that our coworkers are working to help each other avoid needless injuries.  Safety is of high importance at Mohawk and receiving this award validates our efforts,” said Ed Corlew, Jr. Manager, Safety, Health and Security, Mohawk Fine Papers.
Additionally, Mohawk also received six Safety Performance Awards from the Pulp and Paper Safety Association at the Association’s 2007 Safety Conference this month.  Each of Mohawk’s three mills and two converting centers won the “No Lost Work Day Case Award”.  This award is presented to all member locations that complete a calendar year without incurring an injury that results in days away from work.  Mohawk’s Cohoes and Ohio facilities also each received this award in 2005.
The sixth award, presented to Mohawk’s Saybrook Converting Center, was the “Best One Year Safety Record” in the category of specialty converting.  This award, sponsored by Pulp and Paper Magazine (RISI) means that the Saybrook facility was classified as having the best statistical safety record for specialty converting facilities in 2006.
“We are really pleased to have accomplished so much in the area of safety, and to have had a safe and healthy team this past year.  We are looking forward to what we can achieve in 2007 with the help of everyone,” said Corlew.