Firestone Industrial Products Receives Volunteer STAR Safety Award

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley announced that Firestone Industrial Products’s Facility in Dyersburg was chosen to receive the Volunteer STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) award.

“Firestone has met the evaluation standards required to receive this award by proving its dedication to uphold an excellent safety program,” said Bob Henningsen, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, who presented the Volunteer STAR award to the company today at the company’s facility located at 1901 Sylvan Road, Dyersburg.

The Volunteer STAR award is the state’s highest honor for workplace safety and health and a nationally recognized program. The Volunteer STAR is patterned after the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and recognizes the best of the best in the area of safety and health programming and performance.

Firestone in Dyersburg employs 130 people and is a manufacturer of air ride suspension systems. This is the sites initial certification as a Volunteer STAR site.

For the three-year period 2004-2006, the site’s Three-year Total Case Incidence Rate (TCIR) is 1.5 or 79% below the current BLS industry average. The site’s Three-year Days Away from Work and Restricted Activity and/or Transfer Incidence Rate (DART) rate is 0.0 or 100% below the current BLS industry averages.

A plaque of recognition is awarded to the STAR recipient, as is a flag that can be flown at the site. The company is also permitted to use the Volunteer STAR logo on its correspondence and company documents.

The standard for participation in the STAR program is the confirmation of a company’s safety and health program, which helps reduce accidents and injuries. The program also allows employers to be removed from programmed compliance inspection lists for a period of three years.

For more information on the Volunteer STAR award program please call 615-741-5421 or TOSHA’s toll-free number 800-249-8510.