The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Department Presents Johns Manville Tucson with its VPP Designation
(TUCSON – Nov. 6, 2015) – On Thursday, Oct. 29 at noon the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) Consultation Department recertified Johns Manville Tucson as a “STAR Site” through the Voluntary Protection Program, “VPP.” Companies and jobsites that are awarded the STAR designation demonstrate exemplary and comprehensive safety and health management systems.
ADOSH held a recertification VPP Ceremony, where Johns Manville Tucson was awarded the STAR designation certification and presented with the VPP plaque and flag. During the ceremony, Jessie Atencio, assistant director of ADOSH, spoke on the significance of a VPP achievement and its importance to the State of Arizona.
“Safety is so embedded in the workplace culture of Johns Manville Tucson. They have demonstrated the priority each person takes to making sure they have a safe work environment,” said Atencio. “By receiving this recertification, they show their full commitment to safety.”
“The Johns Manville Tucson facility has been part of the VPP Star program since 2007 and has successfully completed the recertification process most recently in 2014. Being a part of the VPP is something our employees take tremendous pride in,” said Ryan Hubele, environmental, health and safety specialist at Johns Manville Tucson. “Safety is a way of life at our facility and everything we do is rooted in our commitment to our employees going home injury free. The VPP program ensures that we always strive for excellence and continuous improvement when it comes to our employees’ health and safety.”
VPP is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) highest program of recognition across the United States. It recognizes employers and workers in private and federal workplaces who have exemplified effective safety and health management systems to achieve injury and illness rates that are more than 50 percent below the national average.
To qualify for VPP status, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo an onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. VPP participants and sites earning the “STAR Site” designation are re-evaluated every three to five years in order to remain in the program. VPP participants are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status.
Currently, only 37 Arizona companies out of more than 135,000 are VPP “Stars.” To qualify for VPP status, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo an onsite evaluation. VPP participants and sites earning the STAR Site designation are re-evaluated every three to five years.
About ADOSH
Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) operates under an approved plan with the U.S. Department of Labor to retain jurisdiction over occupational safety and health issues within Arizona, excluding mining operations, Indian Reservations, and federal employees. This jurisdiction encompasses approximately 2.1 million employees and 130,000 public and private establishments. For more information on ADOSH, Consultation Partnership Programs and the Industrial Commission of Arizona, please visit http://www.ica.state.az.us/ or call (602) 542-5795.
