Region 6 News Release: OSHA-07-715-DAL
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone: (214) 767-4776, Ext. 222 or 221
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) welcomed Repcon Inc. into the prestigious Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Mobile Workforce Star Demonstration Program during a ceremony held today at Repcon's corporate facility on Up River Road in Corpus Christi.
"Repcon has demonstrated excellence in effective safety and health management," said Frank Strasheim, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Dallas. "The company's outstanding efforts include achieving an injury and illness rate that is 93 percent below the national average for the industry."
Repcon, which specializes in refinery alkylation (alky) unit maintenance work, is a petrochemical turnaround specialty company providing services nationwide. Alky units use hydrogen fluoride, a highly corrosive acid, to produce a high octane stream used as a gasoline blend. Turnaround is the term used when a refinery or chemical plant shuts down its operations and hires contractors to conduct maintenance and repairs on processing equipment. The company has 1,500 employees.
OSHA launched the Mobile Workforce Demonstration Program to allow mobile workforce employers nationwide to apply for the "star," or highest, level of its VPP, which was primarily designed for fixed worksites.
More than 1,700 worksites in more than 270 industries nationwide have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management support and employee involvement; high quality worksite hazard analysis, prevention and control programs; 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 rates 50 percent lower than other companies in their respective industries.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure 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 www.osha.gov.
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone: (214) 767-4776, Ext. 222 or 221
Repcon Inc. earns 'mobile workforce star' for safety and health from U.S. Labor Department's OSHA
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) welcomed Repcon Inc. into the prestigious Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Mobile Workforce Star Demonstration Program during a ceremony held today at Repcon's corporate facility on Up River Road in Corpus Christi.
"Repcon has demonstrated excellence in effective safety and health management," said Frank Strasheim, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Dallas. "The company's outstanding efforts include achieving an injury and illness rate that is 93 percent below the national average for the industry."
Repcon, which specializes in refinery alkylation (alky) unit maintenance work, is a petrochemical turnaround specialty company providing services nationwide. Alky units use hydrogen fluoride, a highly corrosive acid, to produce a high octane stream used as a gasoline blend. Turnaround is the term used when a refinery or chemical plant shuts down its operations and hires contractors to conduct maintenance and repairs on processing equipment. The company has 1,500 employees.
OSHA launched the Mobile Workforce Demonstration Program to allow mobile workforce employers nationwide to apply for the "star," or highest, level of its VPP, which was primarily designed for fixed worksites.
More than 1,700 worksites in more than 270 industries nationwide have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management support and employee involvement; high quality worksite hazard analysis, prevention and control programs; 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 rates 50 percent lower than other companies in their respective industries.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure 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 www.osha.gov.
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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.