HanesBrands, the parent of Hanes, Champion and Gear For Sports, announced that its Canterbury Distribution Center, located in Kings Mountain, NC, is one of 21 facilities in the state to achieve 2 million employee hours without injury during the first half of 2017.

This marks the third time in 2017 that Hanes has been recognized for its safety achievements. The North Carolina Department of Labor honored the Cleveland Distribution Center, also in Kings Mountain, for reaching 2 million employee hours without an injury in February and the Almondridge Distribution Center, located in Rural Hall, for achieving 1 million safe hours in June. The NCDOL million-hour safety awards are given to facilities that accumulate 1 million or more employee hours with no cases of injury or illness that involve days away from work.

NCDOL Commissioner Cherie Berry was onsite at Canterbury to present the certificate to Joel Long, director of distribution for HanesBrands, and the facility’s more than 300 employees.

“It is always a big achievement when companies in North Carolina exceed expectations of safety and health in their workplace,” Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “HanesBrands’ Canterbury Distribution Center in Kings Mountain has demonstrated that commitment with this recent 2 million safe hour award, and I applaud them.”

Long commended the Canterbury Distribution Center team for the achievement: “It is an honor for our Kings Mountain team to be recognized twice in one year by the North Carolina Department of Labor.

“We value employee safety at HanesBrands, and it is a responsibility that each of us owns – both for ourselves and those we work with,” he said. “Achieving 2 million safe hours at both the Canterbury and Cleveland facilities is a reflection of the strong collaboration and focus of our dedicated employees.”

The Canterbury Distribution Center, which ships Hanes, Playtex and Just My Size products to mass and regional retailers, has received five consecutive NCDOL Gold Safety Awards (2012-2016), one Silver Award (2011) and achieved 1 million safe hours in February 2016.

HanesBrands sells its products under some of the world’s leading apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Bonds, JMS/Just My Size, Nur Die/Nur Der, L’eggs, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei, and Gear for Sports. The company sells T-shirts, bras, panties, shapewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and activewear.