The FINANCIAL -- Cargill Turkey Production LLC's hatchery has received the "Star" status as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

The OSHA safety programs are designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management. In the Voluntary Protection Program, management, labor and OSHA establish a cooperative relationship at a workplace to implement safety programs. The Star program is designed for worksites with exemplary health and safety programs that go beyond the minimum regulatory requirements established by OSHA.

Cargill will hold a celebration ceremony Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Holiday Inn Harrisonburg, 1400 East Market St., Harrisonburg. A VPP flag raising ceremony will follow at the Cargill Turkey Hatchery, 1724 Country Club Road, Harrisonburg, at 2:00 pm.

"We started the quest to become a VPP Star site six years ago," said Connie Isenhart, hatchery manager. "During that time, we have had three managers, but what has been consistent through this process has been the hourly employees and their dedication to safety.”

The Hatchery has 44 employees and the capacity to hatch more than 17 million poults per year. The poults are placed on farms in Virginia, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"I find it impressive that even with changes in management, the employee engagement and dedication to safety never wavered," Isenhart said. "They truly are an amazing group of people."

The VPP process includes 19 requirements in which employers must demonstrate that they have programs in place to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards. The facility's injury incident rate must also be below the industry average.

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