Safety first, shopping next!

Employees at Alcoa, Inc., Tennessee Operations stayed safe and helped children at the same time. The plant ran a special safety incentive program that resulted in more than $5,000 worth of gifts for the Toys for Tots program.

When their shopping spree to purchase the toys went over budget, the employees reached in their pockets and made personal contributions of more than $1,200. With the match at Wal-Mart and the $2,800 Alcoa, Inc., contribution, the result was more than $5,000 worth of gifts for the program.

The money was raised through a special in-plant promotion designed to increase the number of injury-free events (IFEs) reported. IFEs represent a proactive way to identify potential risk for injury. The more IFEs that can be identified means less injuries that should be sustained. A practical example of an IFE would be picking up toys off the floor at home so no one trips over them.

For every IFE reported, $4 was donated to purchase toys for the Toys for Tots program in Blount County. In all, 650 IFEs were reported during the November promotion, resulting in $2,600 worth of toys to Toys for Tots.

Wal-Mart got into the spirit of the promotion as well, providing a dollar-for-dollar match to Toys for Tots up to $1,000.
Alcoa, Inc., employees gathered at Wal-Mart at 8 a.m. on Dec. 8 to shop. Representatives from Toys for Tots and Wal-Mart were also on hand to assist.