A plant at Bendix's Acuña site recently earned a pair of safety recognitions.
Plant 3 was named a Safe and Healthy Work Environment by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), recognizing the facility's support for health, safety and wellness. The campus was also recognized for 365 days without a recordable injury, and it continues injury-free, the company says.
"We're proud of both accomplishments and how they reflect the wellness and safety culture we've built in Acuña," says Jacqueline Perez, Bendix's managing director of Mexico operations. "That culture starts with Bendix's leadership, which truly values employees and invests in them, and carries on through our team members, who strive to bring their best self to the job each day."
IMSS's Safe and Healthy Work Environments program is a voluntary initiative designed to protect the health of employees by helping to prevent occupational injuries and diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The program includes a rigorous certification process that requires a compliance score of greater than 90%.
"This is a program where companies voluntarily implement health strategies and actions to help improve employees' safety and wellness," said Saidi Zorrilla, safety and health lead at Bendix Acuña. "The objective is to transform the working environment by offering training activities and employing preventive strategies."
While Plant 3's certification is finished, the other two plants and the Bendix logistics center are still working toward their ELSSA certification, with 70% compliance.
"Our Acuña operation is well positioned to earn ELSSA certification because, historically, we've been engaged in wellness and safety activities as core elements of our culture," says Maria Gutierrez, Bendix's senior director of environmental, social and governance. "Resources include occupational health doctors and nurses on staff. And, for many years, we've been intentional about training programs and assessments around factors that impact health and safety."
Bendix's Acuña operation celebrated 365 days without a recordable injury in July. The facility remains injury-free as of late November 2023.Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
In July, Bendix Acuña also achieved 365 days without a recordable injury. A recordable injury is one that requires medical attention beyond first aid, the company says. It hosted a celebration to recognize team members for their commitment to safety.
The Acuña operation conducts weekly safety audits and an emergency work order program to identify unsafe conditions. Employees can also submit ideas for safety improvements.
"We take seriously the safety of our workers, which includes treating all workplace incidents with the highest care," Zorrilla says. "With every incident — even if it's minor or a near-miss — we complete an investigation as if it could be a recordable incident. All incidents deserve the same high-priority attention."
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The 412,000-square-foot Acuña facility opened in 1988 and employees about 1,800 people. It manufactures, remanufactures and assembles antilock braking systems, air dryers, compressors, valves, actuators and integrated vehicle modules. The facility is expanding to include global scalable brake control and global scalable air treatment.
