Wallingford Post Office Earns OSHA Top Honors for Safety

Tuesday Ceremony Hoists Flag Symbolizing Star Status

WHAT:
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the Postal Service’s Wallingford CT Post Office has earned membership in OSHA’s prestigious “Star” Voluntary Protection Program. A ceremony on Tuesday, highlighted by the receipt of the OSHA Star flag, celebrates that achievement.

“Let me stress that this is a short ceremony. But it celebrates our long-standing commitment to safety,” said Wallingford Postmaster Michael J. Schrader. “The Voluntary Protection Program is a rigorous process to administer your own workplace safety and health. It is no coincidence that the best in the safety business get a Star…the highest you can stretch for… the hardest to get your arms around….the top…almost unreachable. In Wallingford, we have proved that it is reachable and we are ready to celebrate, safely of course.”

WHERE:
Wallingford Post Office
4 South Main Street

WHEN:
Tuesday, May 13 - 8:30 am
Media entry: Back door at platform

BACKGROUND:
The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) promote effective worksite-based safety and health. Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. OSHA’s verification includes an application review and a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.

Wallingford is one of 1,945 worksites in 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into the VPP. Sixteen other Connecticut worksites, including the Danbury Post Office, are currently in the program.

Goals of VPP include injury reduction as well as enhanced workplace safety and wellness through partnerships with its unions, through mentoring for best practices among post offices and industry and through the active engagement of employees throughout the facility.

Applicants like the Wallingford Post Office must track and submit their average injury and illness data for the most recent 3 calendar years. To qualify for STAR, the highest ranking within VPP, the rates must be below the current, comparable private sector average rates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Applicants must also submit their Federal Occupational Injury and Illness Log for the most recent 3 calendar years.

The Wallingford facility has 98 employees who are represented by the American Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Letter Carriers.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.