Memphis Steel Facility Receives Volunteer Star Safety Award

Friday, February 20, 2015 | 03:48pm

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced that Gerdau’s Memphis reinforcing steel facility, located in Collierville, was chosen to receive the Volunteer STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) award.

"Gerdau’s Memphis reinforcing steel facility has met the evaluation standards required to receive this award by proving their ability to uphold an excellent safety record," said TOSHA Administrator, Steve Hawkins, who presented the Volunteer STAR award today at the company’s facility located at 155 Progress Road in Collierville. “It is evident that Gerdau is extremely dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.”                                                           

The Volunteer STAR award is the 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.

“On behalf of the employees and leadership at the Memphis reinforcing steel facility, I am honored that Gerdau is a second-time recipient of the STAR award,” said Robert Bullard, Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety at Gerdau. “This group has a proven and solid track record, and it’s clear they’re committed to consistently achieving the best in safety.”

Gerdau’s Memphis reinforcing steel facility is engaged in shearing and bending steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar). 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.
                                                          

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