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Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 
Office of the Commissioner

Alaska Companies, Municipal Facility, Recognized For Outstanding Worker Safety, Health Performance

Jan. 9, 2004
No. 04-28

JUNEAU – Alaska companies from Anchorage, Juneau, Prudhoe Bay and Soldotna and the Kenai municipal wastewater treatment plant have earned state recognition for implementing outstanding on-the-job safety and health programs for employees.

Recognition ceremonies are being scheduled this month to present five organizations with the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. SHARP recognition is administered by the office of Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (AKOSH) in the Division of Labor Standards and Safety.

Division officials will present a sixth commendation, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP Star) award to BP Exploration Alaska for its Central Power Station at Prudhoe Bay. This is the second time the company’s North Slope unit has won VPP Star recognition. BP was Alaska’s first Star winner in 1999.

Labor Commissioner Greg O’Claray announced the awards, saying, “Alaskans are rightfully proud of their frontier spirit and that includes taking care of each other. Concern for the welfare of coworkers is public-spirited and a deserved hallmark of each of these companies.”

Labor Standards and Safety Division Director Grey Mitchell said the six organizations achieved outstanding safety and health records throughout 2001-2002. The companies and the Kenai wastewater plant are excused from generally-scheduled AKOSH inspections during the SHARP/VPP recognition period. Enforcement regulations remain in effect in cases of employee complaints or accident investigations.

The firms and organization recognized today include:

  • Anchorage: Spruce Park Auto Body, 1730 East Dowling Road, with 27 employees, received a two-year SHARP award recognition.
  • Anchorage: Chaz LTD Auto Body, dba Collision Express, with 87 employees including 17 at its 774 Fisher Avenue location, received a one-year SHARP award.
  • Juneau: Dr. Lonnie Anderson Dental Office, 9211 Lee Smith Drive, with four employees, received a one-year SHARP award.
  • Kenai: City of Kenai Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1450 Kenai Avenue, with three employees, received the SHARP award for two years and earned SHARP recognition for the third time.
  • Prudhoe Bay: BP Exploration Alaska’s Central Power Station received the VPP Star award for an additional five years. The Prudhoe Bay BP unit has 30 employees with the facility producing 162 megawatts of electrical power distributed over more than 200 miles of transmission lines.
  • Soldotna: Alaskan Physical Therapy, 36275 Kenai Spur Highway, with three employees, received a two-year SHARP award, the second time they have earned the recognition.

More information is available from SHARP/VPP Program Coordinator Krystyna Markiewicz at 907.269.4958 or by email: Krystyna_Markiewicz@labor.state.ak.us.

 

News Media Contacts:
Krystyna Markiewicz, DOLWD Occupational Safety & Health, 907.269.4958 or
Joe Holbert, Special Assistant/Communications, 907.465.5673

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