Dairy Farmers of America
10220 N. Ambassador Drive • Kansas City, MO 64153
Contact: Kristi Dale, Media Relations
Manager, 816-801-6636, kdale@dfamilk.com
DFA PLANT ACHIEVES ELITE SAFETY STATUS
Ventura Plant Becomes First Dairy
Company in California to Achieve VPP Certification
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dairy Farmers of
America, Inc.’s (DFA) Ventura, Calif., manufacturing plant has earned Star
status in California's Voluntary Protection Program (Cal/VPP). This designation
is the highest recognition bestowed by the program, which is administered by the
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA).
The plant, which is operated by DFA’s Global Dairy
Products Group (GDPG), becomes part of an accomplished minority with this
achievement. It is one of just 82 sites in California to attain this level of
recognition.
“Everyone at the plant worked extremely hard to
achieve this level of recognition, and we are proud to join an elite group of
worksites as a Cal/VPP Star," said Tim Hampshire, plant manager. "It
is a remarkable honor and a true testament to the effort we put into creating a
work environment where our employees and our customers can be assured that
safety is a top priority.”
Cal/VPP Star worksites go beyond the requirements of
state or federal standards. Participants are held to the highest standards
through an intensive evaluation by Cal-OSHA consultants. Worksites develop and
implement systems to identify, evaluate, prevent and control occupational
hazards. By reaching the VPP Star status, employees are able to take pride in
the world-class safety environment they helped shape.
To join this select class, the Ventura plant —
which produces Starbucks® bottled Frappuccino® coffee
drinks for the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture between
PepsiCo and Starbucks Coffee Company — has successfully demonstrated
comprehensive safety and health management systems while meeting strict safety
criteria and completing a three-part evaluation process. In addition, the plant
has shown exemplary dedication and continual improvement in its management
commitment, employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and
control, and health and safety training.
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