The Green Cross Medal is NSC’s annual recognition of an organization that demonstrates a steadfast commitment to improving safety and health in the workplace, its community, and through safety leadership demonstrated by its CEO. FirstGroup was announced the winner in Anaheim, Calif., during the opening ceremony of NSC’s 96th Annual Congress and Expo.
“We believe that FirstGroup is both a trend setter and an industry leader in safety and health,” said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. “Never in the history of the Green Cross Medal has a potential recipient invited our team to spend 2 full days examining its records and witnessing its promotion of safety at every level. They company’s two core values, safety and customer service with safety, exemplify the priority with which safety is embraced.”
FirstGroup is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland. The North American operations are based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and account for 100,000 of the company’s 137,000 employees. FirstGroup America is the leading transportation company in North America, transporting more than 2.5 billion passengers a year.
NSC selected FirstGroup for this honor in recognition of the company’s strong safety culture, led by its chief executive, Sir Moir Lockhead. Other factors included the company’s outstanding safety record and commitment to improving the quality of life in communities where its employees work and live.
FirstGroup America provides busing and maintenance services to municipalities, school districts and the general public in both Canada and the United States. Its First Student is the largest provider of student transportation, safely carrying 4 million students a day. FirstGroup also operates Greyhound services in the United States and Canada, and is one of America’s largest private sector providers of transit management and contracting services and maintains fleets for both public and private sector customers, including fire and police departments.
“This medal is a testament to the focus on safety of the entire organization,” said Lockhead. “Our commitment to the safety of our employees and customers through our injury prevention program means if you cannot do it safely, don’t do it. I am extremely pleased and proud to receive this medal on behalf of all staff at FirstGroup.”
