Trane Arkansas Plant Marks Workplace Safety Milestone

Ray Pittard (left), executive vice president and chief integrated supply chain officer at Trane Technologies; Fort Smith Mayor George McGill; and Carter Roth, Trane Fort Smith plant manager, hold a proclamation declaring February 21 Trane Fort Smith Day. Trane marked a safety milestone of 5 million work hours at the plant without a workday missed because of a work-related illness or injury.

Photo courtesy of Trane Technologies

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Trane Technologies recently celebrated a significant safety milestone at its commercial HVAC manufacturing facility in Fort Smith.

As of Oct. 31, 2023, Trane Fort Smith employees had achieved 5 million work hours — or approximately 12 years — without a day missed due to a work-related injury or illness.

The facility is on track to reach 6 million hours without a work-related lost-time incident by October 2025, according to a press release from Trane. There are approximately 200 employees at the site, which Trane has operated for 29 years.

“Ensuring the safety of our people at work is our highest priority,” said Carter Roth, plant manager. “This milestone recognizes and celebrates our associates’ unwavering commitment to creating and nurturing a culture of safety that has spanned more than 12 years. Putting safety first is just one of the things that makes Trane Fort Smith a place people want to work.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican from the state’s 3rd Congressional District; state Rep. Cindy Crawford of the 51st District; Fort Smith Mayor George McGill; and Arkansas Department of Labor chief of staff Steve Guntharp as well as other local and state officials and members of the community joined Trane leaders and employees in recognizing the milestone.

“Congratulations to the Trane Fort Smith team on twelve consecutive years without a lost-time injury,” said Womack. “This remarkable accomplishment shows how employee safety and care are integral to the company’s success. Business is booming, and the Trane Fort Smith team is part of making that happen.”

Trane Fort Smith has upgraded its HVAC, lighting, and water systems to drastically reduce energy and water usage while creating a more comfortable, efficient environment, and has also eliminated landfilled wood waste, the company said.

The Fort Smith plant manufactures custom HVAC units, custom air-handling systems, and components for commercial applications. The high-efficiency and precise space heating and cooling capabilities of these products are ideal for a variety of commercial building applications, including schools, office buildings, health-care facilities, multi-family residential buildings, and hotels, the company said.