A company in the Humboldt Industrial Park is crediting its employees’ dedication to safety in the workplace as the primary reason it recently received a prestigious national labor safety designation.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Simmons was the only plant in Luzerne County to receive the designation within the past two years.
Simmons Human Resources Manager Doreen Rushton said Simmons employees played a vital role in the company receiving the star designation, explaining, “We decided to pursue this program in part because we like the piece of employee involvement. The reason we have a strong safety program is because of our employees. Getting them involved and educating them is critical to reducing injuries and improving employee safety and health.”
Simmons employees who were part of the VPP team speak highly of the company and the accomplishment.
“From before Simmons opened its local plant, the company has been committed to its employees. They hired people who were mostly from the Hazleton area and asked for employee input to help design and open the plant,” said Tom Charnigo, who works in the receiving department. He has been with Simmons since the company opened its Hazleton facility more than seven years ago, after working for 27 years at the former Allsteel facility in Valmont Industrial Park. As part of the VPP team, Charnigo helped answer OSHA auditors’ questions as he took them on inspection tours of the plant.
“Simmons invested quite a bit of time to earn star VPP status. You can tell that safety is important to the company, especially since they are very focused on proper training for employees. It’s obvious that Simmons wants to do the right thing,” he said. “Simmons believes in employee ownership, and that’s part of what makes this a great place to work. I appreciate what they’ve done for me and what they’re trying to do for everyone else with this increased commitment to employee safety.”
Sewing operator Stacy Loar said, “Safety-wise, Simmons asks its employees – not just the administration – to be involved. Here, everyone looks out for everyone else.”
As part of the VPP team, Loar worked with her fellow employees to make the facility safer and encouraged them to observe safety policies. She is also a volunteer on the facility’s safety team and helps with safety audits.
“I’m very proud of the star VPP accomplishment. I have seen many of my co-workers getting on board with the importance of safety, with the thought, ‘This is my workplace and it’s my responsibility to help make it safe.’ Our plant is always striving to get better,” she said.
Rushton said obtaining the certification is a very difficult process with 32 elements to meet, including completion of required programs in categories such as management leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training.
“This certification means we as a company want to continue to grow and improve in terms of our safety and health programs through a partnership among our company, our associates and OSHA,” she said. “For Simmons, safety is key and has always been a major focus.”
Rushton said Simmons’ process to earn the star designation began about a year and a half ago and culminated in an OSHA audit last summer, when industry and OSHA auditors spent several days at Simmons’ Hazleton facility checking programs, reviewing documentation and meeting with associates individually and in groups. In December, Simmons was honored for its achievement during a ceremony attended by company and OSHA officials.
Another local company, Weir Minerals in Hazleton, which obtained the star VPP designation in 2000 and has been recertified twice since then, helped Simmons on its path to become a star facility and is currently assisting another industry, located in Valmont Industrial Park, in earning its certification.
A group from Simmons toured Weir’s facility several times to get ideas for safety and health improvements. Weir employees also mentored three Simmons associates on protocol for accident investigations.
Nancy Sisock, environmental and safety manager at Weir, said the partnership between the two companies began about two years ago when Simmons’ leadership contacted Weir. During several visits and many conversations, Weir associates provided Simmons employees with advice on the application process, tools and suggestions for improvements, and ideas of what to expect during the OSHA audit.
The companies have maintained their relationship and Sisock was invited to Simmons’ VPP ceremony, where she received a certificate of appreciation.
“Simmons has done a great job. From seeing them a couple of years ago to where they are now, I know they’ve made a huge achievement. Since becoming part of this process, their employees have a passion for safety and I feel the company will be very successful in the VPP program,” Sisock said.
Rushton complimented the Weir employees as well. “Weir and its associates were very, very helpful,” she said.
Simmons Manufacturing Co. has been recognized as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by Fortune magazine. The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) recognize employers and employees in private industry and federal agencies that have implemented effective safety and health management systems and that maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. Through VPP, management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities through hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, training, management and worker involvement.
