OSHA Honors Ft. Meade Facilities For Safety And Health Achievement

Philadelphia, PA - Manufacturing Technologies Solution Office (MTSO) and National Semiconducter of Maryland (NS MD), located at Ft. Meade, have earned membership in the prestigious "Star" Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They recently were honored at a recognition ceremony at Ft. Meade.

"These two separate facilities serving the National Security Agency have done an excellent job of safety and health management," said Philadelphia OSHA Regional Administrator Richard Soltan. "Their commitment to worker safety and health is to be commended."

VPP participants typically achieve injury and illness rates more than 50 percent below their respective industry's average rates. The NS MD facility, employing 178 workers who perform maintenance functions, janitorial services and capital improvements, has an injury/illness rate 68 percent lower than the national average. MTSO supplies technology and support expertise to NSA and has an exceptionally low injury and illness rate, achieving a 0.0 rate last year.

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize and promote effective workplace safety and health management. About 1,300 work sites throughout the U.S have earned OSHA's highest recognition as participants in the VPP. More than 280 industries are represented within the programs.

Information kits about the VPP application and approval process are available from the OSHA regional office in Philadelphia at (215) 861-4900.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

SOURCE: OSHA