SIGOURNEY, Iowa — Duro-Last Inc. announced that its Sigourney, Iowa manufacturing facility was recently awarded Star Site status from the Occupational Safety & Health Organization’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

The company said the recognition joins the VPP Star Site renewal that the Duro-Last facility in Grants Pass, Ore. achieved last year, and strengthens Duro-Last’s continued commitment to the highest standards of workplace safety.

OSHA’s VPP program is designed to recognize employers and workers who have implemented effective safety and health management systems, and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP programs, management, labor, and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through a system focused on hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, training, management commitment and worker involvement.

Facilities can qualify for one of three VPP programs – Demonstration, Merit, and Star. As the highest level of recognition awarded by VPP, the Star program recognizes exemplary worksites that have developed successful safety and health management systems. These sites are self-sufficient in their ability to control workplace hazards and are reevaluated every three to five years.

“The team at our Sigourney facility has worked hard for this outstanding achievement and we are very proud of their dedication,” said Michael Matthews, corporate safety director. “The VPP Star Site recognitions in our Oregon and Iowa facilities have been an invaluable learning experience for our organization, and with the support of OSHA we are working toward implementing VPP status at each of our manufacturing facilities across the country.”

The application and evaluation process for OSHA’s VPP programs requires an extensive evaluation of the site, operations and health and safety programs. The on-site assessment requires a review of records, logs and inspection history, as well as meetings with management staff and employees, a walk-through of the facility to determine hazards and precautions, formal and informal interviews, and a closing meeting to discuss findings and recommendations.

“Employee safety, both at work and at home, is the most important core value in our organization,” said Tom Saeli, Duro-Last CEO. “We continually strive to improve our operations to create a safe environment where our employees can thrive, and the Duro-Last team in Iowa exemplifies what it means to work together to promote a culture of safety. Duro-Last is proud to be considered a safety leader throughout the industry, and we are honored to earn these significant recognitions from OSHA.”