29 Jun 2006
SAN DIEGO The U.S. Labor Departments Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced the acceptance of BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair into the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as a Star site, the highest designation in the program. Only one other privately held American shipyard has earned this prestigious honor, and this is the first time a West Coast ship repair facility has earned membership. Acceptance into the VPP is OSHAs means of officially recognizing the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have exceeded OSHAs standards and achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.
BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair was awarded Star status after a rigorous audit of its safety procedures by the OSHA onsite review team. The audit included a thorough assessment, based on criteria set by VPP for a managed safety and health system. As compared to the ship repair industry in general, BAE Systems has achieved an outstanding record of injury and illness reduction, one of the first criteria to be met before initial consideration of acceptance by OSHA.
Management and employee involvement, detailed safety policies, continuous training and monitoring and an ongoing cooperative relationship with OSHA are the key components of our success, according to Al Krekich, president, BAE Systems Ship Repair. VPP recognition is a tribute to the commitment to safety of the shipyards President Bob Kilpatrick and Kelly Coyne, our yards manager of occupational health and safety, as well as our workforce and our entire management team. Krekich also added, Ship repair can be dangerous, and we make every effort to ensure that our greatest asset, our employees, have a safe working environment. The dedication of every single team member, our customers and our suppliers is critical to the health and safety of all involved. As the first West Coast participant in the program, BAE Systems has truly raised the bar for standards throughout the industry.
The VPP application and review process is comprised of four main elements: management leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control and safety and health training. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join the program. Sites participating in the VPP have overall lost workday rates below the industry average. Over 700 U.S. worksites are VPP participants and more than three-quarters of a million workers in the U.S. are directly impacted by VPP.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is the premier trans-Atlantic defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems, with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, had 2005 sales that exceeded $28 billion.
For further information please contact:
John H. Kowalczyk
BAE Systems
Tel: 757-494-2977
Cell: 757-717-8391
john.kowalczyk@baesystems.com
DeAnn Baxter
BAE Systems
Tel: 703-907-8257
Cell: 703-967-3854
deann.baxter@baesystems.com
www.na.baesystems.com
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