Two Alabama Teams Recognized for Safety Records

Two Watco terminals were recently recognized by the state of Alabama for their impressive safety records.

Watco’s Guntersville Marine Terminal and Decatur River Port each received an Alabama Workplace Safety Award, along with a letter signed by Gov. Kay Ivey and the state’s Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington congratulating them. Guntersville recently marked 14 years without a reportable injury, and Decatur reached 11 years.

“I’m proud, and it’s nice to be recognized,” said Guntersville Terminal Manager Scott King. “But the numbers aren’t what’s most important. It means that everyone went home safe at the end of every day. We’re building on a legacy. I’ve been here 26 years. Our last lost-time injury was before I started,” King said. “Our team is building on that foundation every day.”

Both terminals transload materials like pig iron, sand, steel, and coal between barge, truck, rail, and storage. Guntersville also does caustic liquids. Operator Jacob Roll has been at Guntersville for five years. Like other team members, Roll often works on both sides of the terminal. Each side presents its own challenges, especially for new team members.

“This safety record started long before me. We pass that on. It’s a culture of looking out for each other,” Roll said. “I think the biggest difference is how we use Stop Work Authority, especially with new hires. We let them know they can use it any time they’re uncertain about anything. We stop and assess the situation to make sure we do it right.”

Guntersville Marine Terminal Team

Decatur takes a similar approach to safety.

“This all comes back to the team,” Decatur Terminal Manager Donnie Gunter said. “If we see something, we say something. There are a lot of hazards with what we do, and it takes all of us looking out for each other.”

Decatur Marine Terminal Team