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Plant recognized with prestigious safety award
Our composite polymers plant in Jacksonville, Ark., has been recertified by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) for Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) “Star” status. The Star designation is as prestigious as it sounds.
The program recognizes companies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems, and maintain injury rates below U.S. Bureau of Labor industry averages. Our Jacksonville site submitted annual self-evaluations and underwent periodic on-site reevaluation of incident rates to remain part of the program. VPP companies and sites exemplify top-tier occupational health and safety.
“One of the OSHA auditors identified us as one of the best sites she has audited for VPP recertification. VPP is an effective program and it is composed of a lot of really good companies willing to work with anyone to help everyone get better at safety,” said Joe Jenko, Jacksonville operations manager.
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How they did it • adding a bulk powder addition system that reduces employee exposure to dust; • upgrading process controls and emergency vents to reduce potential exposure to onsite chemicals; |
 Jacksonville employees with their new flag. |
• implementing walkaround inspections of areas by employees who do not normally work in the area;
• designing and installing a small manifold project that replaces manually controlled valves with automated valves to reduce back strain, and
• Installing a fire-safe metal box that includes a site map and safety data sheets for onsite chemicals. This action came after a mock-rescue exercise in cooperation with the local fire department.
“VPP has brought a more keen awareness to our safety programs and what is going on around us everyday. VPP is such a pinnacle achievement for any site and we are proud to say that we are a VPP facility and are going to continue to improve and maintain our high level of safety awareness,” said Jeffrey Wood, plant reactor operator.
Added plant operator Henry Garcia, “Not only have our safety programs been improved, but our total awareness and outlook on safety has also improved. VPP has always been a big topic in Jacksonville for our outstanding safety performance and we hope to continue the tradition.”
