Specification Rubber Products in Alabaster, Alabama, has been named one of Alabama’s Safest Manufacturers by Business Alabama magazine and was among this year’s finalists for Manufacturer of the Year, an annual award presented by the Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network. The company was recognized for both honors at an awards luncheon in Montgomery on Wednesday, May 1.
Award nominations for Alabama’s Safest Manufacturer were judged by a panel of representatives from the Alabama Society of Safety Professionals, and the winners were selected based on safety best practices, including training, safety goals, employee engagement, improvement processes and safety performance.
“Safety is our number one goal,” said Steven Smith, president of Specification Rubber. “We appreciate this recognition. It’s a testament to the work our employees are doing to make Spec Rubber a safe place to work.”
“Safety is our number one goal. We appreciate this recognition. It’s a testament to the work our employees are doing to make Spec Rubber a safe place to work. – Specification Rubber President Steven Smith
As part of its safety program Specification Rubber practices SafeStart, a safety model that focuses on safety awareness on the job and at home. “The program has been effective in helping us teach employees about potentially dangerous conditions and how to avoid injury,” Smith said. “Employees, in turn, are encouraged to share what they learn on the job with family members at home.”
The company promotes an all-hands approach to safety. “It takes everyone looking out for each other,” Smith said. “We have a safety manager who directs our safety program, but it is employees’ responsibility to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them.”
The company was also among a small number of companies up for the Manufacturer of the Year award for excellence in leadership, performance, profitability and workforce relations. “It was an honor to be among the finalists for this award,” Smith said.
Specification Rubber Products is a subsidiary of Birmingham-based AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company, founded in 1905. Specification Rubber, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018, manufactures molded rubber products for the waterworks industry.
The AMERICAN family of companies also manufactures fire hydrants, valves, ductile iron pipe and spiral-welded steel pipe for the waterworks industry and high-frequency-welded steel pipe for the oil and natural gas industries. AMERICAN’s diversified product line also includes fire pumps, structural casing and piling, and castings for large machinery.
