October 8, 2002 – International Paper’s Detroit Container Plant, located in Howell, has become the seventh facility in the state to receive the prestigious Michigan Voluntary Protection Programs (MVPP) Star award for workplace safety and health excellence.  CIS Director Noelle Clark presented the Star flag at a special ceremony today on behalf of the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS).

“We are honored today to award another International Paper facility with the state’s most distinguished safety award, the MVPP Star,” said CIS Director Noelle Clark.  “International Paper’s Detroit Container plant has an outstanding safety and health management system which empowers employees to make safety their top production priority.”

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 actively working toward achieving excellence in workplace safety and health.  It was developed in 1996 to reward private- and public-sector worksites that develop and implement outstanding safety and health programs that go beyond MIOSHA standards.

Employees raised the MVPP Star flag during the ceremony. Accepting the Star award were Ron Helmuth, EHS Manager, and members of the safety committee.  State and local elected officials, corporate leaders, as well as CIS and MIOSHA representatives, were on hand to congratulate Detroit Container employees and management on their outstanding achievement.

"Receiving the MVPP Star award recognizes the outstanding safety and health efforts of the entire Howell team," said Detroit Container General Manager Matt Mataya.  “We have dramatically reduced our injury and illness rates by working in partnership with MIOSHA, and taking advantage of the MVPP team’s knowledge and experience.”

The Detroit Container plant’s Incidence Rates and Lost Work Day Rates are well below the Michigan average for their SIC code 2653, Paperboard Containers and Boxes.The Total Case Incidence Rate for Detroit Container was 2.6 in 1999, 3.6 in 2000, and 3.7 in 2001 compared to 6.8, 6.8, and 6.8, respectively, for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry average.  The Total Lost Work Day Cases for Detroit Container was 0.0 in 1999, 2.0 in 2000, and 0.0in 2001 compared to 3.6, 3.6, and 3.6, respectively, for the BLS industry average.

“National VPP sites experience 60 to 80 percent less lost work day injuries than would be expected of an average site in their industry,” said CIS Deputy Director Kalmin Smith.  “Not only does the MVPP program significantly reduce injuries and illnesses, but it also has a tremendous impact on the bottom line.”

Commitment to health and safety performance is a core value at International Paper.  Management keeps all employees informed of safety and health goals and requirements within the facility through memos, communications, e-mails, and training meetings.  It is management’s belief that truly outstanding safety and health performance is not achieved through a top-down approach, rather it must be shared.

Three years ago, the site instituted a behavioral-based performance (BBP) process to improve their safety and health management system.  Through this system, employees are empowered to integrate safety and health into all aspects of the operations, owning their own safety and health performance.  Management, employees and union representatives credit the BBP process for a substantial drop in recordable incidences.

Overall responsibility for the safety and health program belongs to the general manager. Safety is also a specific rating criterion on all employee annual evaluations. Key job responsibilities, including safety, are also included in all written job descriptions. Employees are empowered to act on any safety and health issues and are held accountable for their own safety and health performance through the performance evaluation process.

Detroit Container has 117 employees, with 85 employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement with Paper, Allied Chemical Employees (PACE) Local #1107.  The relationship between the represented union employees and the plant management is very good, and both parties confirm that they work together toward mutual, agreed upon goals.

The Detroit Container plant designs and manufactures corrugated containers and sheets.  The plant focuses on the production of a wide variety of container sizes to meet a broad base of customer needs, including the automotive, home entertainment, home improvement, and food industries.  The manufacturing process consists of producing corrugated sheets, which are then converted into containers through various converting equipment that prints, scores, slots, folds, glues, die-cuts the sheets.

International Paper operates 10 facilities in Michigan, along with various distribution centers, and employs nearly 1,675 workers.  Of those 10 sites, three have achieved MVPP status.  Currently International Paper has 72 national VPP sites, the greatest number of facilities certified or recommended for certifications in the federal OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com) is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging, and forest products. As one of the largest private forest landowners in the world, the company manages its forests under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (R) (SFI(SM)) program, a system that ensures the continual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, air and water quality. Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in over 40 countries and sells its products in more than 120 nations.

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