Beer Brewer's Barley Storage Facility Earns OSHA's Highest Approval
OSHA recognized MillerCoors LLC's Burley Elevator, in Burley, Idaho, for excellence in employee safety and health, welcoming the facility into the agency's Voluntary Protection Programs at the star, or highest, level on Wednesday.
"This facility has not experienced an occupational injury or illness in the last four years," said Richard S. Terrill, OSHA's regional administrator in Seattle. "This record shows that management and labor working together to implement safety and health management systems can pay remarkable dividends."
The Burley Elevator stores barley grown by local farmers and ships it to the MillerCoors malting house in Colorado when needed.
The star designation came after an OSHA onsite review of the facility's safety and health programs, interviews with employees, and a complete tour of the worksite. OSHA has approved the facility's VPP star status for three years.
The MillerCoors Burley Elevator is one of more than 2,160 worksites in 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. OSHA notes 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 company can apply to join the VPP, OSHA says, adding that VPP companies achieve average injury and illness rates 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average for other companies in their respective industries.