Cintas Unit Wins MVPP Award
"It is a pleasure to recognize Cintas for its company culture that promotes excellence in workplace safety and health," said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. "Implementing best practices for increased worker safety exemplifies a true commitment among management and staff at this facility."
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has awarded Cintas Detroit Cleanroom Resources K-15, an industrial launderer located in Westland, Mich., the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program (MVPP) Rising Star Award for workplace safety and health excellence. It became Cincinnati-based Cintas Corporation's first Michigan location to be recognized with MVPP honors.
"It is a pleasure to recognize Cintas for its company culture that promotes excellence in workplace safety and health," said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. "Implementing best practices for increased worker safety exemplifies a true commitment among management and staff at this facility."
The announcement was made Aug. 17.
Cintas' best practice was the installation of GracePort devices (electrical voltage checkers) on the washers and in the dryer chases. The devices, known as permanent electrical safety devices, assist with the verification of de-energization during lockout/tagout of equipment so workers will never be exposed to voltage because they can verify zero energy from outside the panel, MIOSHA reported.
MVPP assists employers and employees by providing a mechanism and a set of criteria designed to evaluate and recognize outstanding safety and health management systems. The program is designed to establish a cooperative relationship among management, labor, and MIOSHA. MVPP participants implement safety and health management systems that provide protections beyond what is required by MIOSHA standards.
There are two levels of recognition in the MVPP. The Michigan Star program is designed for workplaces that have an exemplary safety and health management system with injury and illness incidence rates below the industry average for the past three years, and the Rising Star program provides the "stepping stone" for establishments that have the desire and potential to achieve Star Status within one to three years. Rising Star participants have a good safety and health management system and have incidence rates at or below the industry average for two out of the past three years.
"The MVPP journey was a true commitment from every one of our employee-partners, and it's such an honor to receive this award," said Brian Manning, plant manager of Cintas' Detroit Cleanroom location. "Our employee-partners have worked hard for this, and I'm so proud of each of them. I also give our corporate leadership a lot of credit for supporting our efforts and guiding us with their corporate safety vision."