NOVEMBER 1, 1999 -- International Paper’s Kalamazoo Container Plant has become the first company in the state to receive a Michigan Voluntary Protection Programs (MVPP) Star flag for workplace safety and health excellence. Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus presented the Star flag to employees at a ceremony Monday, November 1, 1999, on behalf of the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS).

"I am proud to present this prestigious award to the employees and management of the Kalamazoo Container Plant," said Lt. Gov. Posthumus. "We applaud your exemplary safety and health record. And we especially applaud your outstanding leadership in recognizing that integrated worker safety and health management is critical to successful businesses today."

The CIS Bureau of Safety and Regulation is responsible for the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) program. MIOSHA established the MVPP program to recognize employers who are actively working toward achieving excellence in workplace safety and health. It was developed in 1996 to reward private and public sector work sites that develop and implement outstanding safety and health programs beyond MIOSHA standards.

"With more than a 60 percent reduction in injuries and illnesses, this MVPP Star site has shown first-hand that safety pays," said CIS Director Kathy Wilbur. "These workers strive to do their very best because they know their safety and health comes first."

The MVPP Program enhances MIOSHA’s tradition of working cooperatively and voluntarily with industry to reduce and eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses. The two components to the MVPP Program include:

• The Star Program, which recognizes work sites that have achieved excellence in developing and implementing a comprehensive safety and health program. With stringent requirements, this is the highest safety and health recognition in the MVPP.
• The Merit Program, which is aimed at establishments endeavoring to achieve success and excellence as typified by requirements of the Star.

The key to Kalamazoo’s safety program has been a team-based approach, emphasizing employee involvement and input. Since getting involved in the MVPP program in 1997, employees at the Kalamazoo Container Plant have cut their number of injuries by more than two-thirds. Last month, employees reached 1 million hours worked without a lost-time accident.

"We’re very proud to be the first facility in Michigan to receive the MIOSHA MVPP Star award," said Plant General Manager Chris Bakaitis. "Beyond that, I am impressed at how involved the employees here have been in making our workplace safer."

Employees raised the MVPP Star flag during the ceremony. Other state and local elected officials, corporate and union leaders, as well as CIS and MIOSHA representatives, were on hand to congratulate the Kalamazoo Plant on their outstanding achievement.

The Kalamazoo Plant instituted a wide variety of ways for employees to get involved in improving workplace safety and health. Employees tackle safety both proactively and reactively. Shift safety teams, safety audits and behavior-based training programs help prevent unsafe behaviors and conditions. The plant has 143 workers and is represented by PACE (Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy) International Union, AFL-CIO, Local 946.

Kalamazoo is one of 60 plants in International Paper’s Container business. The plant manufacturers corrugated boxes, shipping containers and other packaging products for the furniture, automotive, plastics and food industries.

International Paper is the world’s largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include printing papers, packaging, building materials, chemical products and distribution. The company has operations in almost 50 countries, employs nearly 100,000 people and exports its products to more than 130 nations.