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What's in the News about SHARP?

""January 14, 2004 Marvin Wood Products receives VPP safety recognition

The Department of Consumer and Business Services today (January 14) presented 'VPP Merit Award' status to Marvin Wood Products in Baker City. The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) is a workplace safety-and-health-management program that encourages employers to voluntarily meet rigorous workplace safety standards to protect workers and reduce injuries. Currently, nine sites participate in VPP in Oregon. "Marvin Wood Products demonstrates a commitment to improving safety in an industry where many injuries have traditionally occurred," said Peter De Luca, administrator of the DCBS Occupational Safety and Health Division (also known as Oregon OSHA). "Safety has been transformed from a 'catch phrase' to being a core value at this mill. Management and employees in this facility are working together to ensure a positive direction when it comes to safety." To achieve VPP status, a work site must undergo an extensive Oregon OSHA review of workplace conditions, safety records, employee safety and health programs, and regulatory compliance, including interviews with employees. Evaluators review 19 program elements including management commitment to safety, employee participation, self-inspection, safety and health training, emergency programs and drills, and preventative maintenance. Oregon OSHA's VPP employers are removed from routine scheduled inspections for the duration of their participation. Employees do not lose any rights under the program. Oregon OSHA still investigates accidents, formal complaints and chemical spills. "VPP sites are recognized as leaders," said De Luca. "VPP changes the traditional relationship between industries and Oregon OSHA, and Marvin Wood Products joins a select group of just over 1000 sites in the United States." The mill was recognized by the Oregon OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) in July 1999. The management and employees at the Baker City mill made the commitment to participate in the Voluntary Protection Program, and the facility qualified for 'Merit' status in the safety and health management program in July 2003. 'Merit' sites accomplish most of the safety and health management principles of the Voluntary Protection Program and require additional work to reach 'Star' status. Marvin Wood Products employs 218 people at the Baker City location, many of whom are actively involved in safety and health management programs at the facility. There are currently nine VPP sites in Oregon. The other VPP sites are DPR Construction - Ronler Acres project in Hillsboro, Frito-Lay Beaverton, Georgia-Pacific Coos Bay mill, Georgia-Pacific Philomath mill, Georgia-Pacific Toledo pulp and paper mill, Kerr McGee Chemical in The Dalles, PW Eagle in Eugene and Timber Products Spectrum Division (TP Spectrum) in White City. For more information about involvement in the VPP or SHARP programs, contact Mark Hurliman, Oregon OSHA VPP/SHARP program manager at 503-947-7437.

""December 22, 2003 Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative recognized for worker safety

Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Inc (CCEC) was recognized by the Department of Consumer and Business Services for the utility's commitment to worker safety on December 22nd. Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative joined the Oregon OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Oregon OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who make a commitment to improving workplace safety, reducing their injury and illness rates and develop safe practices which become a model for safe workplaces in Oregon. During the past three years, the utility has recorded over 150,000 work hours without an injury that required a day away from work. The Port Orford headquarters of the utility employs 18 while 30 other employees work in district offices located in Coquille, Gold Beach, Brookings and Port Orford. CCEC serves over 16,000 customers in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties with 1600 miles of overhead or underground distribution lines. SHARP is a recognition program that provides an incentive and road map for Oregon employers to work with their employees to find and correct hazards, to develop and implement effective safety-and-health programs, to continuously improve, and become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety-and-health issues. Oregon employers who have been in business for more than one year are eligible to apply for SHARP regardless of size or type of business. CCEC was formed in 1939 as a public utility serving 225 customers in Coos County. For additional information about the SHARP program, contact Mark Hurliman with Oregon OSHA at (503) 947-7437.

""November 4, 2003 Georgia-Pacific Coos Bay mill achieves VPP Star recognition

 The Department of Consumer and Business Services presented 'VPP Star Award' status to the Georgia-Pacific Coos Bay sawmill and planer facility on November 4th. The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) is a workplace safety and health management program that encourages employers to voluntarily meet rigorous workplace safety standards to protect workers and reduce injuries. "VPP Star status represents the highest achievement for workplace safety and health that Oregon OSHA recognizes," said Peter De Luca, administrator of the DCBS Occupational Safety and Health Division (also known as Oregon OSHA). "This mill has become self-sufficient for its workplace safety and health program because management and employees together ensure this is a safe place to work. Safety has been transformed from a priority to a core value. It speaks well of Georgia-Pacific's commitment to safety that they have three of the eight VPP sites in Oregon." "At Georgia-Pacific, safety is our first priority. Nothing is more important," said Fritz Mason, group manager of Georgia-Pacific's western lumber operations. "A critical component in developing a safe work place is employee involvement - the VPP process recognizes this. The Coos Bay team has done an outstanding job developing their safety program and culture; it is truly led by the employees. Receiving this award, the highest safety honor offered by Oregon OSHA, is a tribute to everyone's efforts." The three-year average for the number of injuries where a day of work was lost or restricted at the Coos Bay mill is 85 percent lower than the state average for sawmill and planer facilities. To achieve VPP status, a work site must have a three-year average injury and illness rate that is at or below those of other employers within their industry. The work site also undergoes an extensive Oregon OSHA review of workplace conditions, safety records, employee safety and health programs, and regulatory compliance, which includes interviews with employees. Evaluators review nineteen program elements including management commitment to safety, employee participation, self-inspection, safety and health training, emergency programs and drills, and preventative maintenance. Oregon OSHA's VPP employers are removed from routine scheduled inspection lists for the duration of their participation. Employees do not lose any rights under the program, and Oregon OSHA still investigates accidents, formal complaints and chemical spills. The mill was recognized by the Oregon OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) in March 2001. The management and employees at the Coos Bay mill made the commitment to participate in the Voluntary Protection Program, and were awarded VPP 'Merit' status in May 2002. 'Merit' sites accomplish most of the safety and health management principles of the Voluntary Protection Program and require additional work to reach 'Star' status. The Georgia-Pacific Coos Bay mill employs 120 people, over sixty percent of whom are actively involved in safety and health management programs at the facility. The mill produces up to 200 million board feet of dimensional cut Douglas fir lumber products annually. For more information about involvement in the VPP or SHARP programs, contact Mark Hurliman, Oregon OSHA VPP/SHARP program coordinator at 503-947-7437.

""May 29, 2003 Timber Products in White City joins VPP safety program

 Timber Products Spectrum Division (TP Spectrum) in White City, Oregon today received 'VPP Merit Award' status from the Oregon OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The Voluntary Protection Program is a national program that encourages employers to voluntarily meet rigorous workplace safety and health management standards to protect workers and reduce injuries. "By achieving VPP status, Timber Products Spectrum Division has demonstrated that they are among the 'best of the best' for workplace safety management," says Peter De Luca, administrator of Oregon OSHA. "Thiss facility had a lost-workday injury rate in 2002 that was 44 percent lower than the state industry average for specialty laminators. That safety record is accomplished because this mill makes a daily commitment to working safely." Timber Products Spectrum Division employs over 50 people at the White City facility, which manufactures wood laminate products used in furniture, shelving, cabinets, stage sets and other applications. The company joined the Oregon OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) in May 1999 before becoming a VPP site in 2003.

""March 26, 2003 Safety awards presented at 2003 GOSH Conference

 The 2003 Oregon Governor's Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference presented safety awards to eleven companies or individuals during a luncheon ceremony on March 5th at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Awards recipients were selected by a panel of safety professionals from the American Society of Safety Engineers, Columbia-Willamette Chapter and the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA).

Large Employer Award (99+ employees)

City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) Wastewater Group Over the past 52 years of operation, the BES Wastewater Group has never had an on-the-job fatality. In 2001, the Wastewater Group did not incur a lost-time injury or illness, a remarkable feat in an industry with numerous electrical, confined space, power transmission and hazardous gas potential exposure. In 2002, the agency achieved Oregon OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status.

Small Employer Award

Emerick Construction Company - Portland, Oregon Emerick's safety record is demonstrated by their policy that if "imminent, serious and willful" unsafe acts or conditions are observed on a work site, all work at that site stops until the worker or subcontractor is removed and safe conditions are restored. The company has received numerous safety awards, including the 2001 National Construction Safety Excellence award for first place in construction safety performance in the United States. Emerick is marking their second year in the Oregon OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

Individual Award

Gerald Gerlach - Prineville, Oregon.  Following his own serious industrial accident in 1994, Gerry Gerlach became dedicated to making sure accident prevention was a priority at Pioneer Cut Stock in Prineville, where Gerlach serves as Human Resource Manager. Gerlach initiated an Oregon OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) at Pioneer Cut Stock that has contributed to a large reduction in work-related accidents, reduced absenteeism and turnover, created higher morale and increased productivity.

The GOSH Conference is presented in odd-numbered years at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The event is co-sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Columbia-Willamette Chapter and the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA).

""December 3, 2002 Fleming in Grants Pass begins sixth year as a SHARP employer

GRANTS PASS - Fleming Convenience Distribution, formerly Core-Mark International, was presented an award by Oregon OSHA on November 22nd marking the employer's sixth year in the Safety and Health Recognition Program (SHARP). Core-Mark is the first Oregon employer to reach six years in the innovative safety-and-health management program. Oregon OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who make a commitment to improving workplace safety, reducing their injury and illness rates and develop safe practices which become a model for safe workplaces in Oregon. Core-Mark was the fourth employer in Oregon to enter the SHARP program when it was introduced by Oregon OSHA. Fleming Convenience Distribution distributes a broad line of products to convenience stores, fast food outlets, and convenience sections of supermarkets. The full-service nature of Fleming's grocery operations demands a significant amount of manual material handling of products, which could result in ergonomic or repetitive motion type injuries. Safety programs introduced by Core-Mark have reduced injuries, reduced turnover at the Grants Pass facility and reduced workers' compensation costs. "The SHARP program has positively affected our operations," says Jack Cooper, Fleming's Division Operations Manager for Grants Pass. "Our productivity and morale have improved, while our sick days taken and error rates to customers have dropped dramatically. SHARP has enabled a small division like Grants Pass to make a positive bottom line in years when sales and merchandise income were not there. The cost associated with SHARP is minimal when compared to our workers' compensation injury cost savings." SHARP is a recognition program that provides an incentive and road map for Oregon employers to work with their employees to find and correct hazards, to develop and implement effective safety-and-health programs, to continuously improve, and become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety-and-health issues. Oregon employers who have been in business for more than one year are eligible to apply for SHARP regardless of size or type of business.

September 27, 2002 Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries honored for safety record

 The Medford Rehabilitation Center operated by Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries received a safety recognition award from Oregon OSHA on September 27, honoring the Center's fourth year in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. Oregon OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who make a commitment to improving workplace safety, reducing their injury and illness rates and develop safe practices which become a model for safe workplaces in Oregon. Safety and health management programs in place at Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries created a lost-work injury rate in 2001 that was 65 percent below the state average for vocational rehabilitation services. "What that means is last year three people lost a day of work to injuries instead of the almost eight we measure as an average for that industry," says Oregon OSHA administrator Peter De Luca. "You can only accomplish this level of injury reduction through careful planning, proactive management and the participation of your employees." "Our relationship with Oregon OSHA and the SHARP program is the perfect partnership," says Steve Martin, Loss Prevention and Safety Manager for the Medford Rehabilitation Center. "Safety is of the utmost importance to our organization, and the SHARP program provides one more tool we utilize to meet our goals. We are the first vocational service organization to be recognized as an Oregon SHARP participant for outstanding employee awareness and involvement in safety programs." Oregon OSHA particularly recognized how involved employees are with keeping operations at the Center safe. Employees participate in monthly safety committee meetings, safety and health inspections, and positive recognition programs reinforce safe work behaviors. The Medford Rehabilitation Center was able to reduce their lost-workday injury rate 58 percent between 1999 and 2000. Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries is a private non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities and other employment barriers to achieve their full potential. The organization operates thirteen stores throughout southern Oregon, and employees over 80 people at the Medford Rehabilitation Center.