Assembly lines have come a long way since Henry Ford introduced the Model T. Each step has become more automated and efficient – requiring less human capital and providing a smaller margin of error.

Every once in a while, you get to meet a truly genuine person. Fibergrate employees have been blessed with the opportunity to work alongside one. Don Albrecht is retiring today – after an astounding forty-five dedicated years with Fibergrate Composite Structures, Inc.

A beautiful dock that will stay beautiful…yeah right… It’s a tale as old as time, and some part of us actually believes it within the first couple years of installation. Even if you invest your time and money into regular dock maintenance, your dock will eventually become a weathered mess.

The metals and mining industries are among the most dangerous industries in the United States. Steel foundries, iron foundries, and copper foundries are in the top ten industries with non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the U.S. (Kurtzleben, 2012). According to the National Safety Council, each lost workday costs almost $35,000 between worker compensation, loss in production, medical bills and other costs.

Skandi Africa was named the “Ship of the Year 2015” at the Nor-Shipping exhibition in Osla, Norway this past June – a title earned through careful design and selection of materials. It is a state-of-the-art vessel specially designed for subsea operation duties to support the oil and gas industry (Teigland, 2015). It was planned with a “high focus on sea-keeping capabilities, excellent station keeping performance and low fuel consumption” (DOF Vessel Skandi Africa Named "Ship of The Year 2015" in Norway, 2015).

With our corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant located in North Texas, we have seen and felt some of the destruction caused by the recent flooding. The immediate impact has had some devastating outcomes, but there are ways to reduce the future damage of this flooding as well as safe guard against floods to come.

The Importance of Plant Safety

Although the number of workers’ compensation claims has decreased over the past fifteen years, the total cost of medical payments to workers has significantly increased (Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services). In fact, the total price of workplace injuries and illnesses cost the nation around $250 billion each year (FSM). In order to keep workers safe and protect the company from lawsuits, it is imperative to create a safe workplace.

In addition to staggering costs, a safe workplace typically increases productivity and boosts employee morale (FSM). Preventative care is the best solution for both the company and the employees.