Hodge Foundry Honors Employees For Saving Co-Worker’s Life

AFS Corporate Member Hodge Foundry (Greenville, Pennsylvania), one of 16 winners of this year’s AFS Safe Year Award, had an extra important reason to celebrate their EHS performance this fall: Thanks to the quick thinking and fast action of six employees last August, a co-worker’s life was saved. 

Yard employee Jim Hartley suffered a heart attack and collapsed outside in the foundry yard. Several members of the team responded quickly, using an automated external defibrillator to restore Hartley’s heart rhythm and applying CPR till paramedics arrived. 

To honor the heroic acts of all involved, the foundry’s director of EHS, Nate Goldowski, helped organize a special recognition cookout with gifts for all employees and a special ceremony with plaques and a commemorative casting for each team member who played a part in the rescue effort. 

Although Hartley was unable to attend, his wife and son were present for the celebratory event and had the opportunity to thank the people responsible for saving Hartley’s life. 

Goldowski underscored the foundry’s culture, in which daily safety consciousness keeps people safe on the job—and shifts into rescue mode when needed.

“I would say our culture is one that’s built on transparency, open communication, and a willingness to get better,” he said. “I think we have a very vocal workforce, and I don’t think they have an issue in elevating any concerns they have. They hold each other accountable, and I think they hold us as management accountable, as well. We have a good line of communication between employees and supervisors, employees and management, and we all understand what the end goal is and how to get there. It’s all about having open dialog and being comfortable to raise concerns when needed.” CS