Frito-Lay plant in Wisconsin honored for safety record

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) again has recertified Beloit, Wis.-based Frito-Lay Inc. as a "Star" site in its prestigious Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

"Frito-Lay has sustained an excellent record in workplace safety and health," said Kimberly Stille, director of OSHA's area office in Madison, Wis. "The company's outstanding efforts include management commitment and continuous improvement of its safety and health programs, as well as exceptional employee involvement in those programs."

The Frito-Lay plant in Beloit last year manufactured 48 million cases of snack foods, while its delivery drivers safely drove approximately 8.5 million miles. This facility initially was recognized as a VPP site at the star level in March 1997.

Because of an impressive improvement in the facility's safety record, its Traffic Division was included in this latest VPP evaluation for the first time. More than 750 people are employed at the Beloit plant, with 120 of them working in the Traffic Division.

OSHA's Star designation is the highest level of recognition that an employer can achieve in the VPP. Designed for worksites with comprehensive, successful safety and health programs, the VPP is open to all industries and to companies with injury rates below their respective industries' national averages.

More than 1,860 worksites nationwide have earned entry into OSHA's VPP, which has proven over the years to be an effective means of reducing injuries, illnesses, fatalities and costs, while fostering a more productive workforce and increasing employee morale.