br>McLane Southern Grocery Distribution celebrated a majormilestone Friday with a fiesta party for its employees.

“This is only the second time that any division has celebratedtwo million hours without a loss time accident. It’s a majoraccomplishment,” said Jim Toler, director of the company’s peopledepartment.

The company recorded the milestone between Nov. 5, 2004, andSept. 15, 2006. It will reach 2.1 million safety hours next month,he said.

“Now we’re shooting for 2.8 million,” Toler said. “No divisionhas ever reached more than 2.7 million hours.”

The Brookhaven division records approximately 100,000 hours amonth, he said. At that pace, it could set the company recordaround April or May 2007.

“These are all local people here and to get this kind ofexposure (within the company and industry) is fantastic,” Tolersaid.

Faye Kimble, a general merchandise collector, said she wasexcited about the company’s accomplishment and took pride inhelping it achieve that goal.

“It’s been a lot of hard work,” she said. “We’ve been very, verysafe for these past two years. It took a long time to gethere.”

Nancy Jackson, a warehouse clerk agreed.

Jackson said safety was an important issue and she was glad thecompany put so much emphasis into it.

The company celebrated the achievement Friday by hosting afiesta-themed cookout for its employees and awarded severalrandomly selected employees with prizes, such as a trip for four toDisney World in Orlando, a cruise for two and cash prizes.