The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) recently recognized two Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) contractors.
NNSS management and operating contractor, Mission Support and Test Services, received the coveted Star of Excellence during the DOE-VPP workshop in New Orleans. Presented by the VPP Participants Association, the workshop is a component of the national symposium and is held annually.
The Star of Excellence is awarded to DOE contractors who achieve injury, illness and lost workday rates at least 75 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics national average for their industry code, meet annual DOE VPP goals and demonstrate strong involvement in the VPP Participants Association, VPP mentoring and outreach.
Also recognized during the workshop was SOC, the NNSS security protective force contractor. SOC was awarded the Superior Star for achieving injury, illness and lost workday rates at least 50 percent below the national average and demonstrating significant involvement in mentoring and outreach.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as a site that puts employee safety and health first,” says Nevada Field Office Manager Steve Lawrence. “We look forward to continued excellence in these areas as we remain committed to the DOE Voluntary Protection Program.”
The DOE-VPP promotes safety and health excellence through cooperative efforts among labor, management and government at the DOE contractor sites. DOE has also formed partnerships with other federal agencies and the private sector for both advancing and sharing its VPP experiences and preparing for program challenges in the next century.
The DOE-VPP has three levels of recognition: STAR, MERIT and DEMONSTRATION. Contractors whose programs meet the requirements for outstanding safety and health programs receive STAR recognition, the highest achievement level.