Dal-Tile Corporation in El Paso, Texas, has earned membership in the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the Star, or highest, level for achieving three years of excellence in employee health and safety.
"Dal-Tile has demonstrated excellence in effective safety and health management," said Dean W. McDaniel, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "The company's outstanding efforts at this site include maintaining an injury and illness rate that is 71 percent below the national average for its industry."
Dal-Tile manufactures ceramic tile and is one of eight production facilities nationwide. The El Paso plant, which began operating in 1995, is the company's largest producer of ceramic tile in North America. Products manufactured in El Paso are shipped to Dal-Tile regional distribution centers and sales and service centers across the United States and Canada.
More than 2,160 worksites representing about 270 industries nationwide have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management commitment and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control program; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join the VPP. Companies in the VPP achieve average injury and illness rates 50 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics average for other companies in their respective industries.
