Bradley Postal Airmail Facility Earns OSHA Top Honors for Safety

WHAT:      
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the Postal Service’s Bradley Airmail Facility has earned membership in OSHA’s prestigious “Star” Voluntary Protection Program.  A ceremony on Wednesday morning will celebrate that achievement

“Let me stress that this is a short ceremony.  But it celebrates our long-standing commitment to safety,” said Mark Sheehan, Postal Manager of the Bradley Airmail Facility.   “It is no coincidence that the best in the safety business get a Star. That's the highest you can stretch for, almost unreachable.  At Bradley, we proved that it is reachable and we are ready to celebrate, safely of course.”

WHERE:    
Bradley Airmail Facility is located at 10 Schoephoester Road in Windsor Locks.

WHEN:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 10 am

BACKGROUND: 
The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) promote effective worksite-based safety and health.  OSHA’s verification includes an application review and a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.

Bradley Airmail Facility is the third Postal VPP site in Connecticut, joining the Stamford and Wallingford Post Offices.  

The Postal Service's District Manager for Connecticut, Edward F. Phelan, will join the local Bradley VPP Committee, with members from both management and craft, in celebrating the honors.   OSHA will present the award. 

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 Bradley Airmail Facility 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.