| Refinery earns its ‘Star’ in OSHA VPP
The U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has designated Shell Deer Park Refining Company as a “Star” site in its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The Deer Park Refinery is the first Shell-owned refinery to achieve Star status and one of about 30 U.S. refineries to earn this VPP designation.
Labor, management and OSHA come together in the VPP to establish supportive relationships in the workplace and all-inclusive safety and health management systems. According to OSHA, “Approval into the VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.”
“This honor was not easily achieved nor was it attained by a few individuals,” says Angie Espinoza, Shell Deer Park Health and Safety coordinator. “It required full management and employee involvement. Every Refinery employee should be proud of it.”
The Refinery embarked on its VPP journey about six years ago with an OSHA evaluation, which gave the Refinery an understanding of what it would take to gain entry into the program. Refinery management and union leaders signed a joint letter of commitment in 2002 to meet all VPP requirements. That commitment, along with extensive analysis and hazard prevention, led to the Refinery’s qualification as a VPP “Merit” site in May 2004.
Following that accomplishment, Refinery employees committed to become a Star site within three years by making necessary improvements in several areas. The Refinery obtained its exemplary Star designation after OSHA conducted a thorough onsite review of the Refinery’s safety and health programs, interviewed employees and completed a walk-through inspection of the site in April. The designation translates into injury and illness rates at or below the national average compared with respective refining companies in the industry.
Besides management leadership and employee involvement, major elements in achieving the prestigious VPP Star status are worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training. All VPP sites in the program must submit annual self-evaluations and undergo periodic onsite reevaluations. OSHA reevaluates Star participants every three to five years and reviews incident rates annually.
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