Coca-Cola Subsidiary Achieves 'Star' Status
OSHA has certified Coca-Cola Danone Waters LLC as a star site, the highest honor in the agency's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). A wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Co., the Danone site in Milesburg, Pa., manufactures bottled water products including fluoridated spring water and purified spring water.
"We recognize Coca-Cola Danone Waters for maintaining high employee safety and health standards at its site," said OSHA Harrisburg (Pa.) Area Director Bryan Seal at a ceremony on Wednesday held to celebrate the achievement at the Milesburg site. "This company is noted for having an injury and illness rate nearly 70 percent below the industry average for three years."
The Milesburg facility is one of 2,160 worksites representing more than 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into OSHA's VPP, the requirements for which, according to the agency, include a high degree of management commitment and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control program; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join VPP. Companies in the VPP achieve average injury and illness rates 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average for other companies in their respective industries.