Jeffboat says it reaches 1 million hours without lost-time injury

American Commercial Lines Inc. announced June 18 that on June 1, its manufacturing division, Jeffboat, accomplished the safety goal of working one million hours without a lost time injury (an injury requiring time off from work). This is the second time that Jeffboat has achieved one million hours worked without a lost-time injury.

Jeffboat is the nation's largest inland shipbuilder and repair facility and is a leader in safety performance in the shipbuilding industry.

"Safety is our priority at Jeffboat and American Commercial Lines, and this is a significant achievement for our people and the company," Jacques Vanier, vice president of manufacturing for ACL, said. "Our consistent safety improvements are a direct result of the company's commitment to safety, extensive employee involvement, and accountability. Ultimately, we are striving to eliminate all accidents and injuries."

Jeffboat and Teamsters Local Union No. 89 received the 16th annual Labor-Management Award from the University of Louisville Labor-Management Center in April 2009 for cooperative relations between management and labor with the goal of improving safety, production, employee performance, efficiency, and cost effectiveness for optimal performance.

American Commercial Lines Inc., headquartered in Jeffersonville, Ind., is an integrated marine transportation and service company operating in the United States Jones Act trades, with approximately $1.2 billion in revenues and approximately 3,400 employees as of December 31, 2008.

COMMENT: Accident free claims by companies are to be questioned. Unless the accident reporting is unavoidable, i.e., death, dismemberment, etc., companies go out of their way to avoid the reporting of a valid Jones Act claim. For instance they will put the Jones Act or LSHWCA employee on full salary so claim is made, or they will send them to a "company doctor" that says they can work "light duty" when, in fact, they should be given a "not fit for duty slip". These practices are constantly used in the river setting as well as offshore. There should be tighter monitoring of the factors utilized before a company can truly claim it has been "accident free".

Steve Gordon

http://www.offshoreinjuries.com