Owens Corning Receives Volunteer Star Safety Award

COMPANY EARNS STAR AWARD FOR THE SECOND TIME

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced that Owens Corning located in Springfield was chosen to receive the Volunteer STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) award.

"Owens Corning-Springfield has met the evaluation standards required to receive this award by proving their ability to uphold an excellent safety record," said Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips, who presented the Volunteer STAR award today at the company’s facility located at 203 Charles Ralph Drive in Springfield. “It is evident that Owens Corning is extremely dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.”

The Volunteer STAR award is the state’s highest honor for workplace safety and health and a nationally recognized program. The Volunteer STAR is patterned after the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and recognizes the best of the best in the area of safety and health programming and performance.

“The VPP process has allowed us to grow our safety culture and realize opportunities through thediscipline required to maintain the expectations of a TOSHA VPP Star facility,” said Trey Hite, Owens Corning-Springfield Plant Leader.  “We have found that the investment in safety has positively impacted the quality and productivity of the plant. Our employees have become Safety Leaders and are enjoying the benefits at work and home from the safety awareness acquired through the VPP process.”

The facility at Owens Corning-Springfield has 34 employees engaged in the fabrication of thermal and acoustic barriers for the appliance industry.  This is the site’s second time to receive the Volunteer STAR award. There are currently 40 Volunteer STAR sites in Tennessee.

A certificate of recognition is awarded to the STAR recipient, as is a flag that can be flown at the site. The company is also permitted to use the Volunteer STAR logo on its correspondence and company documents.

The standard for participation in the STAR program is the confirmation of a company’s safety and health program, which helps reduce accidents and injuries. The program also allows employers to be removed from programmed compliance inspection lists for a period of three years.

For more information on the Volunteer STAR award program and other TOSHA award programs contact the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration at (800) 325-9901.

- # # # -