Concrete Vault Manufacturer Becomes Oregon's 15th VPP Site
A company that manufactures concrete precast vaults is the 15th, and most recent, employer to join Oregon OSHA's VPP program. Utility Vault in Wilsonville, Ore., joined the prestigious program June 8 when the agency presented a VPP Star Award at its plant. (Two of the 15 are federal OSHA VPP sites; the other 13 are in Oregon OSHA's comparable program.)
"Utility Vault has reached a level of safety and health management excellence," said Michael Wood, administrator of Oregon OSHA, in a news release. "VPP demonstrates that the employer has made a commitment to becoming self-sufficient for its safety and health needs. The program provides employers with a blueprint for success by working with Oregon OSHA, and when we work together we can accomplish incredible things to make workplaces safer."
Utility Vault has had an average lost-time injury and illness rate 94 percent below the statewide industry average for concrete manufacturers for the past three years. In 2006, it reported one injury case with time lost during more than 160,000 hours of production. The three-year average is one hurdle to surmount for VPP participation; participants also undergo an OR-OSHA review that includes interviewing employees.