First Automobile Company and Toyota Operation to Reach Voluntary Protection Program Star Status ONTARIO, Calif., June 19
ONTARIO, Calif., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota North American Parts
Center California (NAPCC), the automotive warehouse parts operation in
Ontario, Calif. that supports accessory and replacement parts business for
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that it has achieved
Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status, the highest level of safety
and health management bestowed from the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration in California (Cal/OSHA). The honor marks the first time an
automobile company in the U.S. has been recognized with VPP Star status.
The OSHA VPP Star Program recognizes leaders in occupational safety and
health that are successfully protecting workers from death, injury, and
illness by implementing comprehensive and effective safety and health
programs. To achieve VPP Star status, Toyota NAPCC excelled in a rigid set of
qualifications, including management leadership and employee involvement;
worksite analysis; hazard prevention and control; and safety and health
training.
"Respect for People and Continuous Improvement are Toyota's guiding
principles," said Jane Beseda, Group Vice President and General Manager
Customer Services Division, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS). "The VPP Star status
demonstrates our commitment to protecting our associates and dedication to
improving environmental health and safety across all of our businesses. We're
very proud to join a very elite group of worksites through this achievement.
Our ultimate goal is to have all of Toyota's North American parts operation
sites earn VPP Star status."
The award is the hallmark of OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in
which employees, management and OSHA all work together to implement safety and
health programs and processes that protect workers more effectively than
simply complying with OSHA regulations. The program also recognizes
participants for their dedication to safety excellence. As the highest honor
given by the VPP, the Star award is reserved for participants that exceed OSHA
standards, thereby making them models for their specific industries.
"We are impressed with Toyota's management and employees for their
dedication to safety practices in the workplace," said DIR Director John
Duncan. "They have put in place creative and industrious methods to promote a
safe working environment and are an exemplary model to follow among
California's more than 1.2 million employers, especially in the automotive
industry."
"Besides having essential safety programs in place, the Star award
requires evidence of a high level of employee involvement," said Beseda. "This
award is truly representative of Toyota's commitment to safety, and a
testament to the teamwork and dedication that Toyota associates demonstrate on
a daily basis."
Fewer than 1,900 out of approximately 8.9 million work sites throughout
the United States have earned federal or state VPP Star recognition. In the
State of California, only 64 out of 1.2 million worksites have achieved VPP
Star status.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales,
distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established
in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than
1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs over 36,000
people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.6 million vehicles in 2007. For more
information about our company, please visit http://www.toyota.com/,
http://www.lexus.com/ and http://www.scion.com/.
About OSHA
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as
Cal/OSHA, protects workers and the public from safety hazards through its
Cal/OSHA, elevator, amusement ride, aerial tramway, ski lift and pressure
vessel programs, and provides consultative assistance to employers.
Zoe Zeigler
ToyotaMotor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
(310) 468-4868
zoe_zeigler@toyota.com
Media Contact:
Rebecca Lee
GolinHarris for Toyota
(213) 438-8827
rlee@golinharris.com
SOURCE Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
