VPP: Welco Skookum Division - Shelton achieves top recognition

Welco Lumber Company Skookum Division Shelton site achieves top recognition for occupational safety & health as Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) STAR.

The Welco Lumber Company Skookum Division Shelton site produces cedar fencing and siding products. On January 23, 2004, the Shelton site celebrated achieving the prestige’s VPP STAR status with an award ceremony followed by a catered luncheon for guests and employees.

	The plant is located on eight acres off of Highway 108, approximately 8 miles west of Shelton. Welco Lumber Company is one of the largest western red cedar manufacturers in the US. Welco’s Skookum division manufactures premium bevel siding and fencing product. The Little Creek Casino was the site for the ceremony and celebration.
Pictured in Photo (from left to right Tim Sheldon-sitting, Brad Owens-standing)

Dick Bullard, Vice President and General Manager acted as the MC for the ceremony and introduced Tim Sheldon, Senator WA State; Brad Owens, Lt. Governor WA State; Michael Wood, Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Senior Program Manager; Dallas Schmidt, Skookum Division Shelton Plant Manager; Mike Ward, Safety Committee Representative and Dick Stroble, President and Chief Executive Office. Michael Wood, Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Senior Program Manager, addressed the audience on the leadership commitment, employee involvement and cooperation of working together in partnership resulted in the quality of the site’s safety and health programs.

Numerous speakers commented that our work on improving safety and health at the plant is not done until we achieve “Zero Injuries” through our diligent commitment to continuous improvement. Dick Stroble commented that achieving VPP status was one of the most significant accomplishments achieved by Welco Lumber Company in its 40 years history.

VPP status is approved by WISHA Services for worksite applicants who have achieved outstanding safety and health programs. Only 1040 sites nationally have achieved this elite VPP status. The Welco Lumber Company Skookum Division Shelton site was approved as a VPP STAR site on January 13, 2004 and is WISHA’s seventh STAR site.

The Welco Lumber Company Skookum Division Shelton site, which employs 114 workers, earned its VPP STAR through commitment, leadership and extensive employee participation in developing a continuously improving safety and health program and safety record. The site applied for the VPP and received an on-site review by a team of five WISHA safety and health professionals to achieve VPP STAR status.

The site maintains their status by continuous improvement of their safety and health programs, conducting comprehensive annual self-evaluations on their safety and health programs and receives a comprehensive onsite review every three years by WISHA staff.

The worksite’s potential hazards associated with cedar lumber production processes, including machinery with moving parts, electrical, thermal, energy, material handling, ergonomics, walking/working surfaces, confined spaces, high noise levels falls and hazardous chemicals. Despite these hazards, the site’s three-year average injury/illness recordable rate and days away/restricted/transferred work incident rate for 2000-2002 is 58% below and 53% below, respectively, the national average for similar industries.

Picture: Safety Committee members receiving VPP flag and employees/guests enjoying the celebration luncheon	Picture: VPP STAR Certificate plaque

WISHA’s review team observed that management and employees are committed to continuous improvements of the site’s safety and health program. The safety and health program provides excellent protection from the potential hazards at this worksite.

For more information, contact Lynn Fleming, Human Resources and Safety Manager for the Welco Lumber Company Skookum Division Shelton site at 360-651-1575. For more information about WISHA’s Voluntary Protection Program, in which WISHA and Washington companies work together to improve safety and health programs, call WISHA, Kenneth Werenko, Safety and Health VPP Specialist, 360-902-5515.