Northrop Grumman Sees 14th Site Reach 'Star' Status
Northrop Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems in Norwalk, Conn., has become the 14th Northrop Grumman worksite to be accepted into OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). The site was welcomed into the program by agency officials during a VPP flag raising held Monday at the plant.
"Today we recognize the joint commitment of more than 400 employees and management here in Norwalk who continually and effectively go beyond the status quo in providing and maintaining a safe and healthful workplace," said Marthe Kent, OSHA's regional administrator for New England, on Monday. "The VPP is a challenging and demanding program but its rewards--including lower injury and illness rates--make that effort worthwhile."
The Norwalk plant, which includes about 100 employees represented by IUE-CWA Local 81244, was approved for three years of participation in VPP at the star, or highest, achievement level, following an OSHA team's week-long onsite review of its safety and health management systems, interviews with employees and a complete tour of the plant. OSHA found that the plant's safety and health programs were consistent with the high quality expected of VPP participants, and its injury and illness rates were below the industry average. It now joins more than 2,030 worksites in 270 industries nationwide, including 19 sites in Connecticut, that have earned entry into the VPP.
Thirteen other Northrop Grumman facilities are currently in VPP, with sites in eight cities: San Diego, Rancho Bernardo and Azusa, Calif.; Rolling Meadows, Ill.; Tallulah, La.; Linthicum, Md.; Gulfport, Miss.; and Newport News, Va.