Air Logistics Of Ak, Inc. To Receive Highest Vpp Award

Apr. 12, 2001
No. 01-48

Company recent recipient of Governor's Safety Award for Excellence

Air Logistics of Alaska, Inc. becomes the third VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) site in Alaska to be honored with a Star Award, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Ed Flanagan announced. Flanagan presents the award during a ceremony at the company site in Fairbanks on Friday, April 13, 2001.

"The VPP Star Award is the highest in the voluntary protection program," Flanagan said. "It says a lot about a company's commitment to the safety and well-being of its employees. I congratulate Air Logistics of Alaska for achieving this award."

In March, the Alaska Safety Advisory Council recognized Air Logistics of Alaska with a Governor's Safety Award of Excellence for 2000. The company, which employs 48 full-time employees, provides contract and charter helicopter transportation services to pipeline, oil industry, natural resource, and government agency project activities throughout the state. In addition to having an excellent industrial safety record, the company recently completed its 10th consecutive year of accident/incident free flight operations.

"Our company's excellent industrial and aviation safety record is directly attributable to a deeply rooted corporate culture that places safety first in everything we do," said Air Logistics' Safety Manager Francis Boisseau.
"We have a high level of employee 'buy in' and a strong commitment to establish the safest and most efficient workplace and air transportation effort in Alaska today."

Air Logistics joins BP Central Power Station (CPS) in Prudhoe Bay, which was first approved for VPP Merit status on July 14, 1999 and then for VPP Star on October 18, 2000, and UniSea, Incorporated in Dutch Harbor, the second site awarded VPP Merit.

Federal OSHA first adopted the VPP on July 2, 1982. The Alaska OSH has offered the Voluntary Protection Program, designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management, to Alaska employers since December 1997.

Participation in the program is voluntary and does not exempt the work site from OSH enforcement activities in case of employees' complaints and accident investigations. However the work site is removed from general scheduled inspections for the approved period of time (from 18 months up to 5 years).

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