THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 1995 TAG: 9502180559
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration placed Newport News Shipbuilding in an elite group for its health and safety programs that protect workers.
OSHA admitted the shipyard to its Voluntary Protection Program on Thursday after a two-week review of the yard's health and safety system.
Out of 6 million work places in the United States, only around 250 are in the program, said Linda Anku, OSHA regional administrator. ``You have focused your attention and excellence in producing a safe and healthy working environment in an industry that is notoriously dangerous.''
Newport News Shipbuilding is the only shipyard and the largest plant in the country to be admitted to the program. With 19,500 employs, the yard is the largest private employer in Virginia.
The program establishes cooperative oversight relationships between management, labor and OSHA.
The Peninsula shipyard has set up more than 40 health and safety teams. The teams were assigned specific tasks, such as reducing workers compensation costs and preventing on-the-job injuries.
``It's taken all of us working together as individuals and as team players,'' said W.R. ``Pat'' Phillips, Newport News Shipbuilding's chairman and chief executive. by CNB