Steel Plant Becomes Kentucky's 13th VPP Star Site
"We congratulate the entire Nucor Steel Gallatin team for valuing the importance of workplace safety and completing the comprehensive program required to be recognized as a VPP Star site," Acting Labor Secretary David A. Dickerson said. "Voluntary, proactive programs like VPP play an important role in creating safer workplaces across the state."
Nucor Steel Gallatin became Kentucky's 13th Voluntary Protection Partnership Star Site on Feb. 1, the Kentucky Labor Cabinet announced. Danny Davis, acting director of the Division of Education and Training in the Labor Cabinet's Department of Workplace Standards, attended the VPP flag-raising ceremony at the company's steel mill in Ghent, Ky.
"Congratulations to Nucor Steel Gallatin on this significant achievement," Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said. "The safety and health of Kentucky's workforce are of paramount importance, and we are grateful for Nucor's dedicated efforts in pursuit of continual improvement. As Kentucky takes its place as America's center for engineering and manufacturing excellence, companies like Nucor are setting a powerful national standard for workplace safety."
"We congratulate the entire Nucor Steel Gallatin team for valuing the importance of workplace safety and completing the comprehensive program required to be recognized as a VPP Star site," Acting Labor Secretary David A. Dickerson said. "Voluntary, proactive programs like VPP play an important role in creating safer workplaces across the state. The program is the gold standard for implementing and maintaining safety and health management systems, and we urge other companies across Kentucky to follow the lead of Nucor Steel Gallatin and our other VPP sites."
John Farris, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel Gallatin, said the plant began its VPP journey two years ago "and through the hard work and commitment of each and every one of our teammates, the Nucor Gallatin mill has achieved this distinction and become a safer place to work. I am very proud to be a part of this team."
The Division of Education and Training oversees the VPP program in Kentucky, which is similar to the OSHA program. To receive VPP status, companies such as Nucor Steel Gallatin must meet rigorous qualifying criteria and undergo an on-site evaluation. Nucor Steel Gallatin is part of Nucor Corp., the largest steel producer in the United States and North America's largest recycler, according to the Labor Cabinet's news release, which said Nucor Steel Gallatin is the 26th Nucor facility to be recognized as a VPP Star site.