November 28, 2005—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently highlighted worksites in several states for their outstanding safety and health programs, through OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) awards.
Wheelabrator Westchester L.P.’s Peekskill, New York, waste-to-energy facility received recognition as a VPP “Star” site for its outstanding safety and health management programs. According to OSHA, the organization specifically excelled in industrial hygiene, preventive maintenance, safety signage, and training, with active involvement of employees.
The US Postal Service facility in Kalispell, Montana, was designated a Star site for excellence in its employee safety and health program. OSHA commended the active involvement of the employees, saying, “Each employee has been empowered to identify and eliminate workplace hazards, and the staff is actively engaged in injury prevention programs.”
MWH Constructors, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, earned Star status for its “excellent” work on the Northeast Purification Plant Expansion Project in Houston, now MWH’s seventh Star site. The site maintained an injury and illness rate 68 percent below the national average for its industry.
Five Nebraska meat-processing facilities were recognized for their safety achievements. Farmland Foods in Crete and two Omaha Steaks facilities, received awards for continued reductions in injury and illness rates below the national industry average between 2002 and 2004. Albion Lockers and Hausman & Son’s Processing in Pickrell were recognized for having zero accidents while in partnerships with OSHA that began in 2000.
Entergy Operations Jennings Service Center, Louisiana, earned a “Star” for “excellence in effective safety and health management,” including maintaining an illness and injury rate 100 percent below the national average for its industry.
