On Wednesday, March 2, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson presented Boon Edam with an award designating their Lillington manufacturing facility as a N.C. Department of Labor (NCDOL) SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) site. Boon Edam is a Netherlands-based manufacturer of revolving doors, high security doors, security turnstiles and access gates.
Under a bright sun and with spring-like weather, the ceremonial SHARP flag was presented in front of the facility to the nearly 100 employees in attendance. Dobson spoke about North Carolina’s focus on workplace safety.
“It’s an honor for me to be here today at Boon Edam and meet all of you,” Labor Commissioner Dobson said. “Workplace safety may fly under the radar for some people, but it’s one thing that makes North Carolina unique. Employers across our state make a commitment to workplace safety every day, and Boon Edam is certainly a role model for other worksites looking to improve their safety culture.”
Following the flag ceremony, Dobson and representatives from the NCDOL Consultative Services Bureau joined Boon Edam’s Safety Committee on the factory floor where the committee was presented with the SHARP Award plaque.
“The SHARP designation is not something that the department of labor awards, it is something that a company earns,” Blair Byrd, Industrial Hygiene Consultant said. “Building a safety culture and earning the SHARP designation is a journey, not a destination and I congratulate Boon Edam for their dedication to safety.”
Boon Edam operates manufacturing facilities in three countries and owns distribution centers worldwide. The company opened its Lillington location in 1988, making it the sole plant in North America. Earning their first-ever SHARP award solidifies the company’s commitment to safety.
“I am proud of the safety culture we’ve built at this facility, and today’s celebration is about you,” President and Managing Director Patrick Nora said to Boon Edam employees. “We can purchase the right equipment and implement the right policies, but building a culture of safety relies on the discipline and commitment demonstrated by each of you.”
Tracing its roots back to Amsterdam in 1873, company founder Gerrit Boon crafted revolving doors made from wood. The company carries his legacy of quality forward, all while exemplifying the company’s motto of “We Revolve Around Safety.” Boon Edam is the only SHARP site in Harnett County and only one of about 170 total in North Carolina.
“Congratulations to Boon Edam for receiving this prestigious award,” Lewis Weatherspoon, Chair, Harnett County Board of Commissioners said. “Boon Edam is one of Harnett County’s largest employers and many of your workers live here in the county. Because of your focus on safety, our residents can go home safely each night.”