Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Potlatch Joins VPP Plan

Potlatch joined an exclusive group, with ceremonies held in honor of the company's achievement Friday, May 14.

The plant was shut down at 11 a.m. so the employees could witness the Ozan Unit being inducted into the VPP Star program.

This is a Voluntary Protection Program of the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).

Potlatch's Ozan Unit is the 13th manufacturer to be so honored.

The VPP program recognized facilities having exemplary safety performance and safety management programs.

OSHA created this program to recognize safety excellence by companies and their employees. It provides incentives for continuing improvement at those sites.

Brad Fountain, plant manager, opened the festivities, held under a tent erected on the parking lot, to celebrate this milestone.

He praised the staff and employees for working diligently on this project and said it was time to celebrate the accomplishments.

"We've been on a journey for an injury-free workplace," he said. "We're not there yet, but this is time to pause and reflect."

Potlatch's Ozan Unit has gone two full years without losing any time due to injury.

"We're celebrating the partnership that made this happen," he said.

The company, he said, is generous in celebrating all accomplishments, but, he added, no one can take their "eyes off the prize" in making it a completely injury free workplace.

John Miles, regional administrator with OSHA, presented the award to Potlatch. He said the average industry loses 13 days per year per 100 workers, while none have been lost at the Ozan Unit in the past two years.

He called this a remarkable accomplishment, saying is shows what can be done with cooperation and agreement between labor and management.

This unit, he said, is the first Potlatch in the region to be so recognized. He then presented a plaque and flag to the plant.

Paul Hanson, area director of OSHA, said presenting Star awards is something he enjoys doing as it shows a job has been done well.

"You need to keep up the good work," he told those gathered, "and continue the commitment for an injury free workplace from the top management to the employees. I'd like to come back in two or three years and do this again."

State Sen. Mike Ross was on hand to present Fountain and the company with a Senate Citation, a rare honor given by the Arkansas State Senate.

Ross reminisced about Potlatch and the Bemis family, talking about how his grandfather worked at the Bemis plant.

"This is important for me," he said of the award. "I have many friends here and it's good to see the town recognized.

"Potlatch is a vital part of the economy in Prescott and Nevada County."

He read a letter from Gov. Mike Huckabee, who couldn't be at the presentation due to prior commitments, commending the employees and company for being a Star site in the VPP program.

"This is a reflection of the involvement taken by the employees who have a right to be proud of their record," Ross read from the citation. "I salute their hard work and dedication."

He was then joined by State Rep. Sandra Rodgers for the presentation of the citation, saying there are few given out in the state.

Clark Thomas, state safety administrator for the Arkansas Labor Department, read a letter on the accomplishment's of the company and pledged the department's support.

"This is one of the greatest accomplishments you can achieve," he said. "We'll assist you in any way we can."

Janice May, plant safety manager, said this date was important to her as the company is now a VPP facility.

"We can now see the fruits of our labors and hard work," she said. "We're in an industry that's been a building block of the county."

It's also an industry, she continued, known for sending its workers home hurt, maimed or dead.

"I remember seeing such injuries happen," she said, "and caring for those people."

But, May said, with more education in the area of safety, partnering with OSHA, the union and workers, all involved have arrived at a better time in the history of the timber industry. "This is a big honor for me."

Each of the committees working on this project were recognized.

Penn Siegel, CEO and chairman of the board of Potlatch, told those on hand this had been a long journey, and this division has lead the company in safety improvements in the past few years.

Safety conferences were held, he said, with the Ozan Unit examined and improvements implemented. The results is this division has reduced all areas of OSHA regulations by 50 percent.

He gave the credit to the workers, saying it takes all the employees looking out for themselves and one another to make such things as this happen.

"Now we have the VPP," he said, "and the worst thing we can do is forget it. This is a continuing process. We've had a lot of good help from the federal and state people. We have to keep working hard."

Tom Smrekar, group vice president in wood products, said this was a special occasion, with a lot of hard work and long hours making it possible.

"As a result of this recognition," he said, "you take on a tremendous responsibility. You must be ever vigilant and watch out for the safety of everyone every day. I wish we had this safety record in all the corporation."

Dick Bullard, vice president of southern wood products, was the final speaker, saying he was honored to be invited.

"If you go back three or four years," he said. "the plant was analyzed and wasn't as efficient as it could be."

Changes were made to add a second shift by building a new dry end planing mill. This was a major undertaking, Bullard said, but now the Ozan Unit is one of the best in the nation.

At the same time, the entire corporation was examined as a whole, with several changes found needing to be made, including the sharing of services between divisions.

And, he said, with the effort shown by the workers at the Ozan Unit, it now has the best safety record in the company.

By becoming a VPP Star industry, he said, the U.S. government says the Potlatch Ozan Unit is one of the top 400 safest industries in America.