Utica Post Office Earns OSHA Top Honors

Wednesday Ceremony Honors Second Star For Safety

WHAT:
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the Utica Post Office has earned membership in OSHA’s prestigious “Star” Voluntary Protection Program. A ceremony on Wednesday celebrates that achievement for the second time by that facility.

“Let me stress that this is a short ceremony.  But it celebrates our long-standing commitment to safety,” said Utica’s Postmaster, David Jalonack. “The Voluntary Protection Program is a rigorous process to administer your own workplace safety and health. In Utica, we proved we can do it, and sustain, with our own efforts.”

WHERE:
Utica Post Office
100 Pitcher Street

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 21 – 10 am
Media entry:  Employee entrance

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.

The Utica Post Office is one of 1,945 worksites in 270 industries nationwide that have earned entry into the VPP. With 148 sites in VPP, the Postal Service is the nation’s leading participant 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 Utica Post Office submit their average injury and illness data for review. 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.

According to Postmaster Jalonack, the Utica Safety Committee is chaired by Steve Haman.  Members include Gary Thomas, Glen Hurlbet, Tony Maggio, Lawrence Elliot, Barb Kicienski, Fran Desiato and Maria Manzari, the Facility Safety Coordinator. Utica postal employees are represented by the American Postal Workers Union, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association.