What:

Ceremony for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials to recognize the West Milford postal team for recertification as a Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Star site, the highest certification level granted by OSHA.

Who:

Lisa Levy – Director, OSHA Area Office - Hasbrouck Heights NJ
Steven Hernandez – USPS Northern NJ District Manager
George Caswell – P. O. Operations Mgr. – USPS Northern NJ District
Mark Messineo – Postmaster, West Milford NJ
Steven Cannon – Safety Specialist, USPS Northern NJ District 
Emil Cimorelli – Former Postmaster, West Milford NJ
Employees – West Milford NJ Post Office

When:

10 a.m.  Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Where:

Main Post Office
1560 Union Valley Road
West Milford, New Jersey 07480-9998

Background:

OSHA”s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. Through the program, members of management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. VPP participants are re-evaluated every few years to remain in the program.

The program sets performance-based criteria, invites sites to apply, and then assesses applicants against the established criteria. OSHA’s verification includes an application review and a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts. West Milford was the first Post Office in Northern New Jersey to receive their initial VPP Star Status certification in 2007.

Companies and organizations in the Star Program have achieved injury and illness rates at or below the national average of their respective industries. These sites are self-sufficient in their ability to control workplace hazards.