By Nathan Prewett
For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — Today was a day of celebration for Amerex in Trussville after receiving a significant safety award from the Occupational Health & Safety Administration or OSHA. Amerex was recently selected as a Voluntary Protection Programs or VPP worksite recognizing its workplace safety efforts.
“It’s multi-year process usually that’s awarded to recognize outstanding achievements by employers and employees in development and implementation and continuous improvement of heath and safety management,” said Amerex President Harrison Bishop. “It’s a lengthy application process that requires several site visits.
“It requires polling of the individual employees, lots of information. It’s really hard.”
Workers and staff members at Amerex were treated to Jim ‘N Nick’s catering as several guest speakers were present to comment on the award, including Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat, OSHA Area Director Ramona Morris and McWane President Ruffner Page.
According to Page, Amerex is the seventh of McWane’s companies to be designated a VPP site.
Amerex was presented with a plaque commemorating its safety achievements, as well as a VPP worksite flag that was raised in front of the building, flying with several other flags that can be seen when passing on Highway 11.
“Amerex is the rock of this community as far as employers,” said Choat. “If you’ve been here your name is associated with quality and dedication, and I think the the team was mentioned earlier – what a great team you have here. That’s what we have here in Trussville: we’re a team, we’re a family.”
Amerex is a major manufacturer of fire extinguisher products in Alabama. Among their products are portable and wheeled fire extinguishers, as well as pre-engineered automatic restaurant systems, vehicle fire suppression systems, gas detection, industrial systems and fire detection products.
The ceremony today was held at Amerex headquarters at 7595 Gadsden Highway in Trussville.