ABB’s new Berlin-based Drive Service Workshop, located on 5000 South Emmer Drive in an industrial park, was recognized by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) “Star” site. It’s the highest honor the program can award a facility.

“I would like to thank everyone who participated in helping ABB New Berlin Drive Service in receiving this recommendation from OSHA. We could not have completed this awesome task without your help and awareness of Safety,” said Richard Bizek, Safety, Health, Compliance manager, ABB, New Berlin.

There was a call to ongoing commitment, too. “This is an ongoing process in which we have to show continual improvement on a yearly basis, to maintain the OSHA Star status,” noted Aaron Aleithe, vice president and general manager of ABB’s drives and drives services businesses. He challenged employees to “remain diligent, and please continue achieving the results that have earned us this honor.”

The evaluation for the Star included four OSHA representatives conducting a comprehensive assessment of the New Berlin Drive Service OHS process over a total of four days. These reviewers looked at critical areas across ABB’s businesses, including: Management Leadership & Employee Involvement; Worksite Analysis; Hazard Prevention & Control; and Safety & Health Training

Created in 1982, OSHA's VPP recognizes, and partners with, business and worksites that show excellence in occupational safety and health. These sites are committed to effective employee protection beyond the requirements of OSHA standards, OSHA review team members noted. VPP participants develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, and control occupational hazards, in order to prevent employee injuries and illnesses.

As a result of this commitment from employers, the average VPP worksite has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average of its industry. OSHA, in return, removes participants from programmed inspection lists and does not issue citations for standards violations that are corrected promptly. Further benefits to employers who meet VPP criteria, Bizek noted, are increased profits that result from fewer workplace injuries and illnesses. It’s an achievement that is critical to lowering workers' compensation premiums, according to Bizek, “and it directly benefits employees and employers.”

The culture within ABB is being transformed to become a WORLD CLASS SAFETY performer. This is the third site within the ABB group to become an OSHA Star Site. ABB’s Safety Culture is continually growing by following a Roadmap to Success that utilizes volunteer employee teams and OHSAS 18001 certification.

“It started with a very basic commitment – to listen to our employees, hear them, and then act quickly on their ideas,” said Bizek. Earning the award highlights “the achievement of hundreds of committed employees – and is a powerful incentive to continuous improvement across the entire operation.”

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