Kenworth Earns AWB Safety Award

16 December 1999

Kenworth Earns AWB Safety Award

    BELLEVUE, Wash.--Dec. 15, 1999--A safety program that reduced overall injuries at Kenworth's Renton plant by nearly half during the past year earned the truck manufacturer the Association of Washington Business's (AWB) "Better Workplace Award" for 1999, according to Don C. Brunell, AWB president.
    Kenworth won the award in the workplace safety category for companies with more than 250 employees. Other "Better Workplace Award" categories include job training and advancement programs and innovative benefit/compensation programs.
    "At Kenworth, maintaining a safe work environment is a priority. Our commitment to safety goes beyond the talk. Every manager, supervisor and employee at the plant has a safety focus, which covers everything from hazard reporting to personal protective equipment," said Ed Caudill, Kenworth general manager.
    "Having clearly defined goals that spell out exactly what is expected in terms of safety has been a very effective tool and the key to obtaining the results we have achieved," he added.
    AWB established the "Better Workplace Awards" in 1995 to encourage workplaces that are family-oriented, promote safety and enable employees to be their best. "Often successful programs in these areas go unnoticed and without recognition, that's why AWB created these awards," said Brunell.
    "Highlighting successful efforts like Kenworth's also helps other companies identify and develop programs that result in higher morale, increased productivity, reduced turnover, improved recruiting and reduced training costs," he added.
    Senator Slade Gorton presented the AWB award to Caudill at a luncheon today at the SeaTac Marriott Hotel.
    Kenworth Truck Company is a division of PACCAR Inc, a leader in the design, development and manufacture of high quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, DAF and Foden nameplates. PACCAR also provides financial services and distributes truck parts related to its principal business. In addition, the Bellevue, Washington-based company manufactures industrial winches under the Braden, Gearmatic and Carco nameplates.
    PACCAR shares are traded on the NASDAQ Exchange, symbol PCAR, and its homepage can be found at www.paccar.com.
    AWB is Washington's oldest and largest statewide business organization whose 3,700 members employ more than 600,000 people.