Region 10 News Release: 09-449-SEA (09-92)
June 16, 2009
Contact: Jeannine Lupton
Phone: 206-553-7620

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA awards safety and health star to MillerCoors LLC, Burley Elevator, in Burley, Idaho

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will recognize MillerCoors LLC, Burley Elevator, in Burley, Idaho, for excellence in employee safety and health when the agency welcomes the facility into its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) at the star, or highest, level. A ceremony will be held June 17 at 1:30 p.m. MDT at the facility, 5 North 400 West in Burley.

"This facility has not experienced an occupational injury or illness in the last four years. This record shows that management and labor working together to implement safety and health management systems can pay remarkable dividends," said Richard S. Terrill, OSHA's regional administrator in Seattle.

The Burley Elevator stores barley grown by local farmers and ships it to the MillerCoors malting house in Colorado when needed.

The star designation came after an OSHA onsite review of the facility's safety and health programs, interviews with employees and a complete tour of the worksite. OSHA has approved the facility's VPP star status for three years.

The MillerCoors LLC, Burley Elevator is one of more than 2,160 worksites in 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management commitment and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control program; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join the VPP. Companies in the VPP achieve average injury and illness rates 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) average for other companies in their respective industries.

OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 38 years. This success is reflected in the latest data (2007) showing the lowest national injury and illness incidence rate that the BLS has ever recorded. OSHA will continue to work diligently to focus its resources where they will have the most impact in assuring that every working man and woman returns home safely every day.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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