Second Granite State Postal Facility Enters OSHA Voluntary Protection Program
The U.S. Postal Service' Nottingham post office is the latest postal service worksite in New England to achieve star status in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).
The star designation came after an OSHA team's three-day onsite review found its safety and health programs consistent with the high quality expected of VPP participants. VPP recognizes worksites that are committed to effective employee protection beyond the requirements of OSHA standards and encourages cooperative relationships among labor, management, unions and government. The VPP star is the highest level of VPP recognition that OSHA awards.
"While VPP worksites achieve injury and illness rates below their industry average, the Nottingham post office has had no recorded injuries or illnesses for more than three years," said Marthe Kent, OSHA's New England regional administrator. "That is eloquent testimony to the proactive, comprehensive, and mutual commitment of employees and management to minimize work-related hazards and maximize workplace safety and health."
The Nottingham post office employs eight workers represented by the National Rural Letter Carriers Association and the American Postal Workers Union. Among its areas of excellence is a redesign of the facility's workroom floor plan by employees and the postal district's planner to reduce employees' exposure to slip and trip hazards and to strains while carrying packages.
This post office joins more than 2,160 worksites in more than 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements 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 worksite can apply to join the VPP.
Sixteen other USPS facilities in New England, including the Goffstown, N.H., post office, also have earned entry into the VPP. More information is available at www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp.