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Insulfoam, Inc. Approved For Participation In Alaska Osh Voluntary Protection Program

Aug. 22, 2003
No. 04-06

Anchorage, Alaska – A ceremony honoring Insulfoam, Inc will be held 11:00 a.m. on August 28, 2003 at 628 Western Drive in Anchorage. Insulfoam is receiving this award from Commissioner Greg O’Claray, Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development for continued excellence in worker safety and health over the past three years.

The company is the fifth to participate in Alaska’s Occupational Safety and Health (AKOSH) Merit Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and joins BP Exploration (Alaska) Central Power Station in Prudhoe Bay, Air Logistics of Alaska in Fairbanks, UniSea in Dutch Harbor and TelAlaska in Unalaska as an AKOSH recognized VPP site. Nationwide, there are about 1,000 employers participating in the Merit Voluntary Protection Program.

“In evaluating Insulfoam’s safety and health management system, the AKOSH review team found outstanding safety and health management, employee training and involvement, and application of resources in these areas,” AKOSH VPP Manager, Cliff Hustead, said. “We are extremely impressed with the participation of top level management in systems for protecting employees and believe that management leadership and involvement is the key to Insulfoam’s success.”

Insulfoam employs approximately 15 workers in the manufacture of expanded polystyrene molds for tapered roofs, perimeter foundation insulation, structural building panels, flotation systems and pipeline insulation.

Premiere Industries, the parent company of Insulfoam, Inc., has approximately 850 employees nationwide.

VPP recognition promotes effective workplace safety and health management. VPP participation requires management, labor, and AKOSH to establish a cooperative relationship at a worksite to implement a strong safety and health management system.

Participants in VPP have shown that an investment in the AKOSH program is an effective allocation of resources. VPP sites experience fewer employee injuries and illnesses, reduced workers’ compensation costs, improved productivity, improved employee morale, and recognition in the community. In addition, safety and health management systems are further improved over time through the internal and external reviews that are part of VPP’s ongoing participation requirements.

AKOSH will not target a VPP-approved worksite for any enforcement inspections, although a VPP site must continue to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety and health regulations. AKOSH retains the responsibility for investigating worker complaints and serious accidents at VPP sites.

Editor’s Note: Information kits about the VPP application and approval process are available from the Alaska VPP Coordinator, Krystyna Markiewicz at Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, AKOSH, 3301 Eagle Street, Suite 305, Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 269-4958 or by email at krystyna_markiewicz@labor.state.ak.us.

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