July 12, 2002—The 3M Company plant in Aberdeen, South Dakota, was recognized in June 2002 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for continued excellence in 3M’s safety and health program. 3M’s Occupational Health & Environmental Safety Division in Aberdeen was awarded one of the highest levels of recognition that OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) has to offer, the VPP STAR.
“The 3M Corporation has made a strong commitment to health and safety at its facilities world-wide, and this award for 3M-Aberdeen is proof that commitment is working,” said OSHA administrator John L. Henshaw. “3M’s corporate commitment to bring all of its US facilities into the VPP program is a testament to the strength of 3M’s dedication to the health and safety of its employees, and should serve as a model for health and safety programs in other corporations in this country and, indeed, around the world.”
OSHA’s VPP offers companies a unique opportunity to move beyond traditional safety programs by recognizing work places that successfully incorporate comprehensive safety and health programs into their total management systems. A STAR VPP program is open to any industry, and to companies with injury rates below their industry’s national average. There are approximately 800 VPP STAR sites in the nation.
Requirements for application to VPP include a high degree of management support and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite hazard analysis, prevention, and control program; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place, and in operation for at least one year before applying to join the program.
