The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has re-certified High Steel Structures’ Lancaster, Pa., fabrication facilities as a Star site in the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program — the agency’s highest safety award.
 
The VPP program was established by OSHA in 1982 to recognize employers that demonstrate excellence in their occupational safety and health programs through management leadership and employee involvement in the prevention of injuries, illnesses and fatalities. An early participant in the program, High Steel was first certified as a Star site in 1983.
 
The company takes great pride in maintaining the Star VPP status, says High Steel President Jeff Sterner, “We are honored for our safety program to be recognized once again by OSHA. As we continue to measure and monitor our safety progress, the ultimate objective is to eliminate all work related illnesses and injuries.”
 
Both of High Steel’s locations are Star VPP sites, with the Williamsport, Pa., facilities having earned certification in 2007. The company is part of an elite group of worksites with a proven record of accomplishment for safety initiatives.  Nationwide, only 1,594 companies, 37 of which are in the fabricated metal industry, are active in the federal VPP program. In Pennsylvania, 103 companies are VPP certified.
 
A celebration of the re-certification, with an official ceremony and co-worker lunch, was recently held at High Steel’s Lancaster facility.