Archive

First Coatings Manufacturer Accepted Into OSHA's VPP Program

Dec. 9, 1999

The Sherwin-Williams Co.'s Chicago Emulsion Plant was recently named an OSHA VPP "Star" site.

The Sherwin-Williams Co.'s Chicago Emulsion Plant was recently accepted into OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as a "Star" site.

The VPP program recognizes facilities in the United States that have designed and implemented outstanding health and safety practices.

The Chicago Emulsion Plant is the first U.S. coatings manufacturer to achieve this status.

"We thank our employees for their dedication and tireless commitment to safety," said John G. Breen, chairman of The Sherwin-Williams Co.

It is only through their efforts that our facility has achieved this performance that puts us in the same safety category with other world-class companies."

To be admitted into the VPP, companies must demonstrate excellence in areas such as management commitment and planning, workplace analysis, hazard tracking, and training.

After an on-site evaluation by an OSHA team, the Sherwin-WilliamsChicago Emulsion Plant was approved for VPP "Star" status, signifying that the plant had met all requirements of VPP's highest designation.

"OSHA is particularly proud of this site," said C. Sheila Misner, VPP manager with OSHA. "There are approximately 1,500 paint manufacturing facilities in the United States today. This is the first site in this type of industry to have achieved VPP participation in the country. The support of the union and management leadership was essential for this achievement. Both sides have shown that together, they can accomplish excellence in safety."

To attain this status, Dennis Stevens, facility manager of the Chicago Emulsion Plant, said the plant had to develop new, innovative safety processes through employee involvement.

"Under the leadership of Jim Jones, our safety manager, a self-empowered safety committee was formed. These employees worked together as a team and were instrumental in helping us fine tune our safety efforts in this plant," said Stevens.

Overall, less than 600 companies have been able to obtain acceptance into the VPP Program out of the more than 6 million work sites in the United States.

For more information about OSHA's VPP Program, go to the OSHA Web Site at www.osha.gov/ oshprogs/vpp

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.