State L&I awards Hampton Mill for safety record
Published 10:46 am Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Department of Labor and Industries presented a workplace safety award to the Hampton Lumber Mill in Darrington, recognizing the achievement with a ceremony on May 6.
The mill successfully completed L&I’s Voluntary Protection Program, a challenging audit that recognizes companies demonstrating a strong commitment to safety. Michael Silverstein, L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health assistant director, presented a VPP flag and certificate to the mill at a ceremony at the Darrington Community Center.
“The whole mill is very excited to be receiving the VPP STAR status,” said plant manager David Roane. “We entered into this process to find the gaps in our safety program, to get better at protecting our people and to improve our safety performance. The recognition that we have accomplished these goals is very satisfying.”
To even participate, companies must have an excellent safety record. The Hampton mill previously won its company’s President’s Award for Safety in 2006 and 2007. As part of the VPP certification process, a team of L&I safety consultants visited the mill and interviewed more than 80 employees, reviewed company safety programs and observed mill operations.
“Lumber mills have many hazards, including heavy equipment and machinery, which makes it all the more impressive that the Hampton Lumber Mill was able to earn this safety award,” Silverstein said. “The company has clearly demonstrated that injuries can be prevented if managers and employees work together and dedicate themselves to the mission of workplace safety.”
The mill was purchased by Portland, Ore.-based Hampton Affiliates in 2002 and consists of a log yard, saw mill, kilns, a planer, shipping area and a co-generation plant, which provides steam power for the kilns and powers a generator that feeds electricity to Snohomish County PUD.
