AW Transmission Engineering in Plymouth Receives Renewed MIOSHA

Recognition for its Workplace Safety and Health Excellence

Contact: Tanya Baker 517-373-9280
Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs


October 20, 2014 AW Transmission Engineering USA, Inc. (AWTEC) in Plymouth recently
received renewal of its prestigious Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
(MSHARP) Award certification from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(MIOSHA). MIOSHA established the MSHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved
workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers. The MIOSHA program is part of the
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

The management and employees of AW Transmission Engineering have once again proven their
commitment to workplace safety and health excellence, said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. We
are pleased to recognize them as an MSHARP worksite a designation which they have held since
2011 and look forward to their continued participation in this cooperative program.

MSHARP targets small manufacturers to help them develop, implement and continuously improve
the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system. The program provides
an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems,
not reacting to them.

The MIOSHA Onsite Consultation Program within the Consultation Education and Training (CET)
Division operates the MSHARP. MSHARP worksites earn an exemption from "programmed"
MIOSHA inspections on a yearly basis.

Onsite consultants work with employers to help them become self-sufficient in managing
occupational safety and health. The MIOSHA review team consisted of George Zagresky, senior
safety consultant and D.W. Johnson, industrial hygienist. The site manufactures automatic
transmissions and car navigation systems for its parent company, Aisin AW. The North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for AWTEC is 33635.

"MSHARP requires a comprehensive consultation visit and the correction of all serious workplace
safety and health hazards," said Yoder. "AWTEC has developed an exemplary safety and health
program which provides the utmost protection for its workers."

The facility has an excellent system in place, which incorporates each of the seven required
elements: hazard anticipation and detection; hazard prevention and control; planning and evaluation;
administration and supervision; safety and health training; management leadership; and employee
participation.

Some of AWTECs new improvements include:
Installed safety railings where forklift and pedestrian traffic converge.
Posted new PPE/Emergency Action signs in the work area.
Installed E-Stop cables along all powered conveyors.
For more information on AWTEC, please visit http://www.awtec.com/.
For more information about MIOSHA, please visit http://www.michigan.gov/miosha
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For more information about LARA, please visit www.michigan.gov/lara
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