Airgas awarded for safety and environmentalism

Airgas recently received two awards for safety standards and practice in addition to the CGA Environmental Recognition Program Award.
The two Compressed Gas Association Fleet Safety Awards were for Bulk Gas Transportation and Cylinder Gas Transportation. The former recognised Airgas’ safety record among bulk gas fleets with more than 20 million miles driven during 2009, the later acknowledged its nation-leading safety record among cylinder gas fleets with more than three million miles driven during 2009.
Airgas also received the CGA Environmental Recognition Program Award for Green Distribution Centres. Airgas has won the Bulk Gas Transportation award twice and is a three-time winner of the CGA Cylinder Gas Transportation award.
Peter McCausland, Airgas Chairman and CEO commented, “With one of the largest private fleets on the road, safety is a top concern for all of us at Airgas.”
The CGA is the industrial and medical sector’s standard-setting organisation across the United States. The organisation endeavours to promote safety standards and good practice. Fleet Safety awards are distributed according to the CGA members’ total vehicle accident frequency rate per million miles driven annually.
Peter McCausland noted, $quot;This CGA recognition for having the best fleet safety record among both bulk and cylinder gas fleets is a testament to the skills exhibited by our drivers, and their unwavering focus on safely meeting the needs of our customers.”
He continued, “It also highlights the effectiveness of our Airgas SAFECOR team, which is responsible for coordinating safety, compliance, and regulatory affairs. We are very proud of our drivers and the safety culture at Airgas.$quot;
Airgas also received the CGA Environmental Recognition Program Award for Green Distribution Centers, recognizing Airgas’ network of welding and safety products distribution centers. The award acknowledges strong environmental practices and improvements among CGA members and the compressed gas industry.
Airgas Chief Operating Officer Mike Molinini stated, $quot;With six distribution centers located throughout the U.S. encompassing 850,000 square feet, we recognize the importance of working as efficiently and as cost effectively as possible.”
Mike Molini further commented that energy efficiency, recycling and environmentalism “go straight to our bottom line.”
He specified Airgas’ changes saying, $quot;We’ve installed low-energy lighting and motion sensors that turn lights on when they’re needed and off when they’re not; purchased energy-efficient and pollution-free forklifts; adopted recycling programs for cardboard boxes, and expanded reusable shipping pallets. Even more important is that Airgas employees have embraced our ‘green’ efforts.”