LP Building Solutions' Bath plant has reached two years without an OSHA-reportable injury, company officials told WETM in a report Monday, crediting training, equipment safeguards and daily safety discussions.
The Steuben County facility opened in October 2023 after construction began in July 2022. LP's opening announcement describes a 90,000-square-foot prefinishing plant on 75 acres that receives siding by rail from the company's production mills, then paints, packages and distributes it to customers. LP developed the site to serve the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada siding markets.
“Any manufacturing environment that can go two years without an OSHA-reportable injury is a huge accomplishment,” Derek Hitesman, the environmental health and safety manager, told WETM.
Forklift alerts and fall protection target daily hazards
Some forklifts have cameras and pedestrian-detection systems to warn operators when someone is in their path, the plant manager told the station. Vibration-detection technology also monitors equipment for impacts.
Hitesman described training for new employees, regular refresher sessions and additional instruction when new technology is introduced. Employees also discuss safety during daily meetings.
The precautions extend to the loading area, where about 10 to 20 tractor-trailers arrive and depart each day, according to WETM. Drivers must wear harnesses when working on top of trailers to protect against falls.
The plant manager told the station that managers check employees' work before they enter hazardous areas and regularly review company policies to reduce risks.
“Safety is the most critical measure that we have, and it's going to stay that way,” Hitesman said. Employees will mark the milestone with a steak and crab boil, WETM reported.
Companywide award measured 2025 safety performance
The Bath milestone follows LP's Sept. 3 announcement that APA — The Engineered Wood Association named it the 2025 Safest Company in its category. It was LP's fourth consecutive win and its 16th in the award program's 18-year history.
For its manufacturing facilities companywide in 2025, LP reported a total incident rate of 0.68 and a weighted incident rate of 3.04. APA's awards use those measures to evaluate the frequency and severity of workplace incidents.
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