The South Lake Tahoe Main Post Office has achieved the coveted OSHA Voluntary Protection Program “Star” status.

The Star status is the highest safety recognition offered by OSHA. Out of the 7.5 million worksites evaluated by the Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) just 2,200 have achieved the distinction. That’s just one out of every 3,500 offices that are deemed the very best.

A ceremony with Postal employees and OSHA officials is scheduled at the Main Post Office on Tuesday, Sept 29, 2009 at 10:00.

The Star distinction recognizes offices that have outstanding safety records and prevention, but it is also especially keen on those offices that have excellent employee-management cooperation.

South Lake Tahoe Customer Services Supervisor Carolyn Willford points to a number of things that helped impress evaluators. Egress was improved, walkways cleared, electrical connections upgraded and other minor building improvements. Also is the ongoing safety awareness through talks, standups, demonstrations and self evaluations.

“Everyone worked well together to make this happen,” she said. “We are all aware that workplace hazards can also impact our personal lives with injuries that keep us from our families, our leisure activities or interests.

“Safety on the job is one of those things you can’t take for granted,” she said.

“We are especially proud of South Lake Tahoe,” said Postal Spokesperson David Rupert. “This award shows how well employees step up and work with their managers to create a safer workplace.”

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.