Four ExxonMobil Chemical Co. sites in Texas have received the highest recognition presented to industrial plants for excellent safety performance as part of OSHA''s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
The VPP is based on employee involvement in management systems designed to prevent and control the potential safety hazards at work sites.
ExxonMobil''s Beumont Olefins Aromatics Plant has earned a "Star of Excellence Among Stars" award, the highest honor presented by OSHA.
This award is given annually to sites that have demonstrated a recordable incident rate that is 90 percent better than the average of other businesses in the same industry code.
The company''s Beaumont Polyethylene Plant received OSHA''s "Super Star Among Stars" award for the sixth consecutive year, the Beaumont Chemical Specialty Plant earned the award for the fifth year in a row, and the Baytown Olefins Plant won for its second straight year.
To qualify for this honor, sites must annually achieve a recordable incident rate that is 75 percent better than the average of other U.S. businesses in the same industry code.
"Our employees in Beaumont and Baytown have worked hard to maintain our OSHA VPP "Star" certification level, and we''re very proud of this recognition," said Bruce Macklin, regional director for ExxonMobil Chemical. "The dedication and commitment necessary to achieve this level of performance in safety and health is truly outstanding."
VPP is a cooperative effort among OSHA, industry and labor to recognize and promote effective safety and health practices in the workplace that exceed the basic OSHA safety and health requirements.
OSHA approves applicants for the VPP only after a thorough written program review, an intensive on-site visit, documentation review and thorough interviews of employees at all levels.
ExxonMobil facilities have been recognized by OSHA as Star sites since 1982 -- two years after VPP was established.
The VPP assessments are conducted every three years.
Of an estimated 7 million eligible sites in the United States, fewer than 500 industrial facilities nationally have attained Star status in the program, including 13 ExxonMobil Chemical locations.
In addition to being recognized nationally as an OSHA Star facility, the Baytown Olefins plant is a past winner of the "Best in Texas" Safety Award from the Texas Chemical Council and received the Award of Honor from the Texas Safety Association for its 1995 and 1996 safety performance.
by Virginia Sutcliffe