The International Carbon Black Association (ICBA) announced the recipients of its 2024 Safety Performance Awards, reinforcing its strong commitment to fostering a safety-first culture across the global carbon black industry. The awards celebrate companies that have set exemplary standards through participation in the ICBA’s Safety Recognition Program.
Outstanding Performance Across the Industry
In total, 23 Gold Safety Awards have been presented to manufacturing sites that achieved exceptional safety records. The ICBA recognized three standout companies whose continued dedication to workplace safety has set the bar high for the entire industry:
*Birla Carbon – 13 Gold Awards
*Orion – 6 Gold Awards, 4 Bronze Awards
*Tokai Carbon – 4 Gold Awards, 2 Bronze Awards
“These organizations exemplify what it means to put safety first,” said Dr. Wesley Wampler, President of ICBA. “We congratulate the award winners for their unwavering commitment to protecting their workforce. As an association, we remain dedicated to promoting best practices and shared responsibility for safe operations across the industry,” Dr. Wampler added.
Driving a Culture of Safety Through Recognition
The ICBA Safety Awards honour companies that demonstrate superior safety performance at their production sites. By rigorously evaluating verified data and key safety metrics, the program encourages continuous improvement and proactive risk management across the carbon black sector. Beyond recognizing excellence, the awards support the ICBA’s broader mission to advance responsible manufacturing, innovation, and environmental stewardship throughout the industry.
Award Categories and Criteria
The ICBA Safety Recognition Program is voluntary, with participating companies submitting validated safety data from the prior year. Awards are conferred across three performance tiers:
Gold Award
Granted to sites that:
Meet Silver Award criteria
Have received third-party safety or environmental management certifications such as ISO 45001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, OSHA VPP, or an equivalent
Or have implemented a company-specific safety management system
And achieved zero Lost Work Day (LWD) cases for more than three consecutive years
Silver Award
Awarded to sites that:
Meet Bronze Award requirements or show over 50% improvement in safety metrics year-over-year
Record zero OSHA recordables or medical aid cases
Have no fire or property damage incidents over $100K
Receive zero safety-related regulatory citations
Bronze Award
Recognizes sites that achieved zero Lost Work Day (LWD) cases in the 2024 calendar year.
Building Toward a Safer Future
Through this annual recognition, the ICBA continues to motivate companies to prioritize employee well-being, minimize workplace incidents, and build a culture of safety excellence. As per the press release, the Safety Performance Awards stand as a testament to the industry’s collective progress and ongoing commitment to safe and sustainable operations.
