Honor presented for exceptional workplace safety and health standards
BETHLEHEM, PA---December 12, 2008---The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has presented its highest honor for employee health and safety programs, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star award, to GE Oil & Gas' Easton/Bethlehem facility. The Star award was presented to GE Oil & Gas management and employees during a ceremony today in Bethlehem, PA.
The VPP Star program is designed for worksites with comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems. VPP Star certification signifies the facility achieved injury and illness rates at or below the industry group national average and met the VPP criteria for safety and health programs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average of recordable incidents is 5.1 per 100 employees. Over the last three years, GE Oil & Gas has achieved 1.9 recordable incidents per 100 employees.
"VPP's certification process has resulted in fewer employee injuries at our facility," said John Howard, GE Oil & Gas Services North America Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Leader. "The site's Recordable Incident Rate has gone from 3.92 at the beginning of the process to almost zero. The biggest benefit is the level of awareness and acceptance to health and safety programs across the organization. A large percentage of our employees are involved in the daily management of EHS -- that responsibility no longer resides with just one person. When suggestions and concerns are raised, they are resolved through the Safety committee and all personnel get a response to their concerns."
GE Oil & Gas' Easton/Bethlehem facility followed specific, rigid guidelines in order to reach the standard for VPP certification. "This certification is not just to the minimum level of legal compliance, but the expectation is to be over and above minimal compliance," Howard said. "Many of our customer sites are VPP certified, so our customers expect a certain level of safety certification and standards. With our VPP status, we can ensure satisfaction through safety and reliability."
The Easton/Bethlehem site has effectively implemented a 21-point health and safety program consistent with GE Corporate EHS expectations.
OSHA conducted an audit of GE Oil & Gas' Easton/Bethlehem facility and its programs during an onsite visit from August 5-6 and determined that it had not only met OSHA requirements, but exceeded industry standards of occupational safety and health. GE Oil & Gas' Easton/Bethlehem facility was approved as a VPP Star site on October 16.
GE Oil & Gas employs more than 80 people in its Easton/Bethlehem operations, which consist of two main buildings. The manufacturing facility is located in Easton, while the Bethlehem facility contains Engineering, Project Management, Sourcing, Quality Assurance, Finance and other supporting functions. Occupying over 150,000 square feet, this division of GE Oil & Gas designs, repairs, re-rates and manufactures expanders, centrifugal compressors, axial compressors and steam turbines. Parts from these product lines are also serviced and repaired at the Easton facility.
The latest VPP certification of the Easton/Bethlehem facility reinforces GE Oil & Gas' commitment to the highest standards for employee health and safety and environmental protection. In addition to being a moral and ethical responsibility, it serves to build GE Oil & Gas' reputation as a responsible corporate citizen in the communities in which it operates, helps attract and retain high caliber employees, and is essential to improving the quality of products, as well as the productivity and financial performance of the business. With the addition of the Easton/Bethlehem facility, over 75 percent of the 13,000 GE Oil & Gas employees reside at worksites recognized for EHS excellence.
About GE's Oil & Gas business
GE Oil & Gas (www.ge.com/oilandgas) is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry, offering complete solutions for production, LNG, transportation, storage, refineries, and petrochemicals. It also provides pipeline integrity solutions including software and asset management. With its acquisition of VetcoGray and Hydril Pressure Control, GE Oil & Gas now offers additional products, systems and services for drilling, completion and production within onshore, offshore and subsea applications.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
1-518-786-6488
Sara Hassett
GE Oil & Gas
[email protected]
+39-055-423-3361
Kate Culman
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
1-518-786-6488
GE news
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
business unit
tags