SRC takes OSHA's Star status

Mention the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to the top management of some companies and the reaction is likely to be outright panic.

But that's not the case at Springfield ReManufacturing Corporation. In fact, over the past six years SRC, a remanufacturer of agricultural and automotive engines, has come to view OSHA as a partner in the effort to provide a safe work environment for its employees. The results of that partnership were recognized in a ceremony held at the company's Heavy-Duty Division facility July 26.

The event commemorated renewal of SRC's Star status in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program. Dr. Thomas Glenn, representing the secretary of labor, presented the three-year award to Marty Callison, SRC's general manager. Along with exemplary safety and health programs, OSHA officials noted the company's injury incident rate, which is 78 percent below the national average for its industry.

"We really do view OSHA as a partner in our safety programs," Callison said. "And they've bent over backward to help us in our efforts to achieve and maintain Star status. We're very proud of the award and the effort our employees put forth to create safety programs of this caliber."

Cynthia Dearing, VPP program manager for OSHA's Region VII, which includes Springfield, said VPP participants must complete an application which demonstrates that the elements of a good overall safety and health program are in place.

"In addition to the 19 sub-elements contained on the application, a company must show that its injury and illness rate is below the national average for its industry," Dearing said. "Or they must be close enough so that the national average could be achieved in two years."

With the application process completed, Dearing said a team from OSHA schedules a site visit to review documents, conduct a walk through of the facility and interview employees. At the end of the visit, she said the team would make a recommendation concerning entry into one of VPP's three programs: Merit, Demonstration or Star, VPP's highest status.

Dearing said SRC is one of only 22 companies in Missouri that have achieved Star status four in Springfield and four others located in communities in southwest Missouri. She said VPP participants enjoy benefits that include exclusion from scheduled OSHA visits, lowered injury and illness rates and recognition for their achievements.

Frank Roscom, SRC's production manager, started out with the company cleaning engine parts 13 years ago. He said safety had become a basic part of the company's culture even before it originally gained Star status in 1995.

"We've been working on this for a long time," Roscom said. "But as time went by, people came on board who knew more about safety programs and things in the company began to take their present form."

One of those who came on later was Kathy Miller, SRC's safety director. Miller, who joined the company in 1998, said the two components that keep safety programs on track are commitment from management and employees buying in to the program.

"If everything else is in place and you don't have those two things, it's never going to work," Miller said. "Those are the first two things OSHA looks for when they come on the scene to check out your application."

Roscom said the company uses a series of safety committees to keep employees motivated about safety. Those committees seek out and evaluate employee input concerning safety matters.

"Employees didn't believe there would be much of a change at first," Roscom said. "But when they saw the company making changes as a result of committee recommendations, it opened all kinds of doors."

Every committee meeting includes looking for ways to keep morale up, Miller said. Things such as games, contests and incentive programs that award cash to employees who submit safety suggestions that are implemented are used for morale.

"Training is also a big part of the effort," Miller said.