VICTORIA, April 14, 2010 -- LyondellBasell’s Victoria Plant has received an OSHA award for safety and achieved a significant safety milestone. On April 5, the plant reached one year without a recordable injury (a recordable injury is one that requires medical treatment beyond first-aid) for employees and resident and nonresident contractors. It also recently was recertified as a Star site under the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“It takes personal dedication and commitment from every individual to achieve these great accomplishments,” Plant Manager Dale Friedrichs said. “It also takes teamwork and watching out for each other during every work task. But the best reward is that each person at the site has gone home in a safe condition at the end of every day.”
The VPP was established in 1982 to recognize employers and employees who focus on the prevention of injuries, illnesses and fatalities through the implementation of effective safety and health management systems. Currently, there are nearly 2,200 federal and state VPP-certified participants out of 7 million eligible locations.
LyondellBasell’s Victoria Plant first achieved VPP status in 1998. The “Star” designation is the highest level of recognition for exemplary occupational safety and health programs awarded by OSHA as part of the VPP. Maintaining this status requires periodic re-certification by OSHA that takes several days and involves an extensive audit of records and safety practices, plus interviews of employees and management. The audit of the Victoria Plant had no findings or follow-up corrective actions, which is highly unusual, Friedrichs said. In OSHA Region VI, there are approximately 500 VPPcertified sites.
LyondellBasell’s Victoria plant produces high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic resins that are used to make consumer products including housewares, home construction materials, automotive parts, food packaging and personal-care products. The plant has approximately 80 employees and contractors on a site covering approximately 33 acres.