Evergreen Packaging Receives Volunteer STAR Safety Award

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced that Evergreen Packaging - Royal Blue Chip Mill located in Pioneer was chosen to receive the Volunteer STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) award.

"Evergreen Packaging - Royal Blue Chip Mill has met the evaluation standards required to receive this award by proving their ability to uphold an excellent safety record," said TOSHA Administrator, Steve Hawkins, who presented the Volunteer STAR award today at the company’s facility located at 701 Howard Baker Highway in Pioneer. “It is evident Evergreen Packaging is extremely dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.”                                                          

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.

“Evergreen Packaging – Royal Blue Chip Mill is pleased to receive the Volunteer STAR award,” said Matt Claypool, Evergreen Packaging’s Director – Environment, Health, and Safety.  “Evergreen Packaging believes that it is vital that we conduct our business in safe, healthful workplaces.  We continuously work to improve our health and safety performance.”

Evergreen Packaging - Royal Blue Chip Mill’s Pioneer facility has seven employees that produce wood chips for the Evergreen Packaging Mill in Canton, North Carolina. This is the site’s fourth time to receive the Volunteer STAR award. There are currently 37 Volunteer STAR sites in Tennessee.

A certificate 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 and other TOSHA award programs contact the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration at (800) 325-9901.