ARDL Receives Second Consecutive ARPM Safety Recognition
2026 Safety Best Practice Award recognizes ARDL’s innovative safety training and commitment to continuous improvement.
Akron, Ohio — Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) is proud to announce it has been recognized with the 2026 ARPM Safety Best Practice Award, marking the second consecutive year the company has received national safety recognition from the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM).
Presented during the 2026 Environmental, Health and Safety Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana, the ARPM Safety Best Practice Awards recognize organizations that have implemented innovative and effective programs that strengthen workplace safety culture and improve overall safety performance. Award-winning initiatives may include employee safety training, safety committees, emergency preparedness, safety communication, equipment safety, and other proactive safety programs.
At ARDL, Safety is more than a workplace initiative—it’s one of the company’s seven core values and serves as a guiding principle for daily operations and decision-making. Every employee plays an active role in maintaining a safe work environment, supporting one another, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
“In 2024, we established our first core values in a commitment to align where our lives and polymer solutions should meet. In doing so, we began to understand that how we carry ourselves, stay attentive and look out for (Trust) one another translates precisely into safety and trust in the rubber industry. ARPM, we thank you for the acknowledgement that our focus is impactful, influential and effective.”
— Toby Samples, President & CTO
ARDL earned the 2026 Safety Best Practice Award for its Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) Awareness Training and Emergency Response Procedures, a comprehensive safety program developed and implemented by Safety Manager Mike Coss. The program reflects ARDL’s ongoing commitment to proactive safety education, emergency preparedness, and continuous workplace improvement.
That commitment is reinforced through monthly safety training, ongoing safety improvements, proactive employee involvement, and a strong track record of low workplace incidents. By embedding safety into every aspect of its operations, ARDL has cultivated a culture where protecting employees is a shared responsibility and an essential part of delivering the quality and technical excellence customers have come to expect.
This recognition follows ARDL’s 2025 ARPM Gold Safety Achievement Award, which recognized the company for achieving zero OSHA recordable injuries across both of its locations. While the awards honor different accomplishments, together they reflect ARDL’s continued dedication to building and sustaining a strong culture of workplace safety.
ARDL’s leadership in workplace safety extends beyond its own operations. In April 2026, Safety Manager Mike Coss was invited to serve on the Board of Directors for the Summit County Safety Council, reflecting both his expertise and ARDL’s ongoing commitment to advancing workplace safety throughout Northeast Ohio.
As an independent polymer testing, consulting, and development laboratory serving manufacturers worldwide, ARDL understands that operational excellence begins with a strong safety culture. A safe workplace enables employees to perform at their best while helping ensure the consistent, reliable service and technical expertise customers depend on.
Receiving national safety recognition from ARPM for the second consecutive year reflects the dedication of every ARDL employee and reinforces the company’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a workplace where safety is not simply a priority—but a core value that drives continuous improvement and long-term success.
About ARDL
Founded in 1962, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) is an independent polymer testing, consulting, and development laboratory serving manufacturers around the world. From physical and mechanical testing to chemical analysis, failure investigations, custom test development, and product innovation, ARDL empowers customers with the technical knowledge, solutions, and results needed to develop better-performing materials and products.
