Region 6 News Release: 11-500-DAL
April 15, 2011
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
E-mail: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA recognizes Naval Health Clinic
in Kingsville, Texas, for excellence in safety and health

KINGSVILLE, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized the employees and management of Naval Health Clinic in Kingsville for achieving three years of excellence in the company's employee safety and health program. The Naval Health Clinic facility has been designated as a "star" site in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

"The Naval Health Clinic in Kingsville is to be commended for demonstrating excellence in effective safety and health management," said William A. Burke, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Dallas. "Outstanding efforts by the employees and management led to zero injuries and illnesses over the last three years."

Naval Health Clinic employs about 41 workers at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, providing outpatient medical and dental care for active duty and retired military personnel and their families.

Michael Rivera, OSHA's Corpus Christi Area Office director, and Rick Martinez, OSHA's Corpus Christi VPP coordinator, presented a plaque and flag at a ceremony.

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize private and federal work sites with effective safety and health management systems that have maintained injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages. Management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on hazard prevention and control, work site analysis and training. Union support is required for applicant work sites where employees are represented by a bargaining unit. Participating work sites are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html or contact William Klingbeil, the VPP manager for OSHA's Region VI in Dallas, at 971-850-4159.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audiotape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.