Duro-Last, Inc. is excited to announce that its Grants Pass, Ore. manufacturing facility has received Star Site status from the Occupational Safety & Health Organization’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

According to OSHA, “The VPPs promote effective worksite-based safety and health. Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.”

Star Site status is the highest of three programs offered by VPP. According to OSHA, “This certification is designed for exemplary worksites with comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems.”

Obtaining VPP recognition required an extensive application process that documented Duro-Last’s corporate commitment to worker safety and health.

“Safety is always Duro-Last’s number one priority,” said Tim Hart, Vice President of Western Operations. “I would like to congratulate the employees, Safety Committee, safety director, managers, our CEO Tom Saeli and the Board of directors who champion and support safety throughout the company. “

Duro-Last has a long history of working together with OSHA, and the Grants Pass plant was also a graduate of the OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) in 2006.

“We are proud of the work we have done with OSHA that has allowed us to learn the best practices of other SHARP and VPP companies and helped us understand the importance for continuous improvement in safety programs,” Hart said. “We thank Oregon OSHA for recognizing the dedication our Grants Pass employees have to safety. Without their safety mindset, this recognition would not have been possible. We would also like to thank the Oregon VPP team for their encouragement and mentoring.”

All Grants Pass employees were integral in complying with VPP guidelines and standards. Retaining VPP Star Site status is an ongoing process, and continuous improvement is expected.

“We are proud of how successful our VPP application was for Duro-Last’s Oregon plant,” said Michael Matthews, Corporate Safety & Health Manager. “All of our corporate safety policies are standard across all Duro-Last facilities, including our other four manufacturing locations”

Having a safe work environment is a lot like a machine, and the four major “gears” that must work together include:

Management, Leadership and Employee Involvement

• Hazard Prevention and Control
• Training
• Worksite Analysis

The VPP Star Site award will be presented by the Oregon OSHA Director Michael Wood on November 17 at the Grants Pass facility.

Duro-Last’s manufacturing facility in Carrollton, Texas will be the next facility to apply for VPP, with the goal of getting Star Site status for all five of Duro-Last’s facilities across the country.