Southeast Missourian and Concord Printing production employees recently reached 1,500 days with no lost-time, or major, accidents.

The accomplishment was achieved May 4.

Eight days later, during a monthly safety meeting, 42 employees were presented with cake and monetary gift cards during a special ceremony.

Steve Rose, safety director for the organizations, stressed that the employees strive to be safety-conscious at all times.

"The management is 100 percent behind our safety program," Rose said. "They want our employees to know we care about them and expect them to be safe on the job and at home. It continues to pay dividends to our employees and our company."

To ensure safety, Rose said the employees participate in a number of programs to prevent on-the-job accidents. They include meetings, safety bingo, discussing issues with a committee and turning in ideas for safety posters that are placed throughout areas of the building, located at 500 William St. in Cape Girardeau.

Already, Rose is thinking about the next goal: 2,000 days without an accident. But for now, he said his employees will strive to keep safety a top priority.