USA: NSWC IHD Receives Voluntary Protection Programs Star Status

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) received Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Star status from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), June 20.

The VPP Star certification is OSHA’s highest honor and recognizes worksites that exhibit comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems.

Organizations in the Star Program achieve injury and illness rates at or below the national average of their respective industries. NSWC IHD’s injury and illness rates on average were 64.5 percent below the national average for its industry.

“We are extremely proud of our safety culture and performance here at NSWC IHD,” said Capt. Andy Buduo, NSWC IHD’s commanding officer. “VPP Star status was achieved through a team effort that required each and every employee’s commitment. The entire workforce played an integral role in this endeavor by providing feedback to management, improving their individual safety performance, looking out for their co-workers and operating safely.”

The OSHA team performed a four-day worksite evaluation from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, which included a comprehensive inspection of safety programs, work processes and site facilities, and interviews with employees. Inspectors determined that NSWC IHD incorporated multiple best practices/areas of excellence in areas, such as employee involvement and ownership in safety and health, communications processes, trend analyses, and qualification and certification processes.

“Safety is a number one priority at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division,” said Dennis McLaughlin, NSWC IHD’s technical director. “We are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees.”

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division is a Naval Sea Systems Command field activity and the largest Department of Defense full spectrum energetics facility and leader in the Navy’s energetics enterprise. The activity’s mission is to research, develop, test, evaluate, and produce energetics and energetic systems.

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Naval Today Staff , June 29, 2012