CAPSTAN RECEIVES SHARP WORKPLACE SAFETY AWARD

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley announced that Capstan Tennessee, Inc., in Rockwood was chosen to receive the SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) award.

The SHARP award, designed for smaller employers with fewer than 250 workers in high-hazard industrial classifications, is one of the state's highest honors for workplace safety and health. The main incentive for participation in the SHARP award program is the desire by employers to promote a safe and healthy workplace. The program also allows employers to be removed from programmed compliance inspection lists for a period of 12 months.

Commissioner Neeley presented the SHARP Award to Loren Bone and Bill Lybarger, general manager and human resources manager, respectively, for Capstan, in a ceremony at noon today at the company's facility in Rockwood.

Capstan Tennessee, Inc., which has 96 employees, manufactures parts from powdered metal using mechanical power presses. The component parts are heat treated, machined, finished, packages, and shipped all over the world.

Capstan's safety record is significant. The company's Days Away Restricted Time (DART) for 2004 was 2.2; the industry average DART is 3.4. Capstan's Total Recordable Case Incidence Rate (TRCR) is 4.4; the industry average TRCR is 8.7.

For more information on the SHARP award program, contact TOSHA's Consultative Services office at (800) 325-9901.

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