McWane Inc.

McWane, Inc., based in Birmingham, is a leading manufacturer of cast iron pipes and is one of America’s largest privately owned companies, employing over 7,500 people. The company was founded in 1921 by J. R. McWane and is still owned by the McWane family. The company's operating revenues are estimated to be somewhere between $1.75 and $2 billion a year. Along with the company's US operations it also has operations in Australia, Canada and China.

Subsidiaries of McWane

• Ductile Iron Pipe Division
  • McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company
  • Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Company
  • Atlantic States
  • Clow Water Systems Company
  • Canada Pipe
• Waterworks Valves and Fire Hydrants Division
  • M&H Valve
  • Clow Valve Company
  • Kennedy Valve
  • Clow Canada
• Soil Pipe, Soil Fittings, and Utility Fittings Division
  • Union Foundry
  • Tyler Pipe
  • Bibby-Ste-Croix
  • Anaco
• International Sales
  • McWane International
• Propane and Compressed Air Division
  • Manchester Tank
• Fire Extinguisher Division
  • Amerex

Unsafe Practices Criticisms

McWane Inc. has been criticised for its unsafe practices cited by number of media articles. In 2003 PBS Frontline in cooperation with the New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation did an episode about the company, calling McWane one of the most dangerous work places in America as a contributor to multiple deaths at its numerous foundries. Documentary is called A Dangerous Business and claims that McWane, Inc. foundries' focus on production and profitability comes at a price. The documentary raises accusations of safety and environmental shortcuts that may have been taken by McWane to increase production at the cost of workers lives and limbs.

In the U.S., between 1995 and 2003, McWane has been guilty of more than 400 health and safety violations in workplaces they own in 10 states based on US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. In same time period, 4,600 workers have been injured in their foundries.[1]

McWane has acknowledged that "our standards have not always been met" but that the company has taken action to improve its record.[2] On its website's Health and Safety section it states that "McWane values the well-being of our employees, for they are the heart and soul of our company." [3]

Safety Upgrades

In recent years the company has upgraded many of its facilities to meet federal safety standards. The company's Union Foundry has won several safety awards from local and state officials.[4]

References

• McWane Inc.. (2007, May 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:55, July 9, 2007 [5]

External links

• Company Website
• Frontline documentary about McWane
• NY times article
• copy of New York times 2003 article
• Canadian Broadcast Corporation article
• Los Angeles Times and Houston Chronicle quotes