JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Safariland Group, named one of America’s Safest Companies, announced today that it has achieved an aggregate 3.2 million hours worked without a recordable injury. Associates in Jacksonville, Florida have exceeded more than one million production hours without a recordable injury while Tijuana, Mexico associates surpassed more than two million production hours, both accumulating to achieve this distinction. As a company committed to saving military and law enforcement officers’ lives with ballistic vests, holsters, duty gear, bomb-disposal suits and more, The Safariland Group continues to distinguish itself with an emphasis on the safety of their own associates with world-class safety procedures in place.

The Safariland Group initiated its corporate safety program five years ago, and in 2013, Safariland, LLC was named one of “America’s Safest Companies” (ASC) by EHS Today for providing a safe work environment and demonstrating low injury rates that few companies achieve. In fact, while the standard total recordable case (TRC) injury rate of .75 is considered “world class,” The Safariland Group facilities around the world are operating well below this U.S. standard.

According to an article published in September of 2013, “Companies that are named to EHS Today’s ASC list understand the symbiotic relationship between safety and productivity, profits, morale and employee retention,” said Sandy Smith, editor in chief of EHS Today. “The marketplace is demanding that companies be sustainable, and they only should be considered sustainable if they protect their most important asset: employees.”

Today, included in its comprehensive safety program, The Safariland Group associates are involved in stretching programs to address potential ergonomic issues and are trained to identify risks which may potentially cause injuries. Further, with safety tips posted visibly throughout the facilities and encouragement from the leadership team, associates have been empowered to raise a “red flag” if a concern is noted. “With this element of our safety program, we’ve empowered our associates to stop production if, at any moment, they feel unsafe or see a potential danger,” said Pat Ross, Director of Safety, Health, Environmental Security and Risk Management for The Safariland Group. “Conversely, this program also encourages associates to call out good behavior with incentives tied to it. By giving our associates the right to put their and their colleague’s safety first, they now have created a safer working environment for each other. It is very rare to work for a company that has exceeded one million hours of production without a single recordable injury. We are so pleased to know that we come to work in a safe environment each day.”

Stated Scott O’Brien, President of The Safariland Group, “Our entire company culture is built around saving lives; it’s why we come to work every day. It was only natural to ensure that the same type of attention our associates place on the lives of others was built into our own operating procedures. We’ve always strived for a safe workplace environment, so implementing a program with strategic safety goals and key measurement factors was the next logical step for us.”

The Safariland Group safe practices, including designated safe working parameters, are implemented throughout its facilities. The Jacksonville facility houses production for concealable ballistic vests, firearms cleaning solutions and forensics equipment. Similarly, Tijuana associates are safe and ergonomically-correct manufacturers for automotive accessories, ballistic vests and duty gear equipment. Consisting of 12 locations, The Safariland Group is a growing company and is determined to continue to pursue innovative solutions to safety challenges.

The Safariland Group is celebrating 50 years in business in 2014. For more information about The Safariland Group and its life-saving products, visit www.safariland.com or follow The Safariland Group on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.