Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

IP Re-Certified As Star Site

Through a strong commitment to operational excellence in safety, International Paper's Gurdon Complex was recently re-certified as a Star' site in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's VPP (voluntary protection program). VPP is the government's top safety program.

The Gurdon Complex was certified as a VPP star site in 1992, and was the first plywood manufacturing operation within IP to achieve this elite safety status.

"Our re-certification to star status would not have been possible without the dedication of every member of the Gurdon team," Ron Freer, regional manager for IP's wood facilities in Gurdon and Whelen Spring, and Springhill, La., said "This re-certification shows that IP's goals of excellence in safety really are possible, and it's a great feeling to know that our team was not only the first to reach this goal, but that we've maintained it for eight years."

OSHA's voluntary protection program is intended to encourage good health and safety management. Being chosen by the government as a VPP participant demonstrates that a facility, like the Gurdon Complex, has the systems and the expertise to excel in safety. The program allows all employees and OSHA to establish a cooperative relationship in the workplace. It focuses on manager commitment and employee involvement in safety, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control and effective safety programs.

"We are dedicated to the need for personal accountability that comes with striving for an accident-free workplace," said Jerry Wicker, safety coordinator at the Gurdon Complex. "VPP star status says to our company, our customers and our community that we are dedicated to making the Gurdon facility as safe a place to work as possible."

The Gurdon Complex, with 550 team members, is part of IP's Panels and Engineered Wood Products business, headquartered in Savannah, Ga., produces plywood, oriented strand board, treated poles and laminated veneer lumber products used for residential and commercial construction throughout North America and Europe.

The business includes five plywood mills, three oriented strand board sites, two utility pole plants, one laminated veneer lumber mill, two distribution centers, a sales office and research and development responsibility.