The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) has awarded a Clean Harbors treatment and disposal facility in Kimball, Neb., with the program’s “Star” designation. The status is an upgrade from the “merit” designation that OSHA awarded the facility in 2008.

According to a press release, “VPP is a comprehensive health and safety process that requires employee involvement, management support, and cooperation with OSHA. Recipients demonstrate a strong management and employee safety culture that ensures a safe and healthful workplace environment, with occupational injury and illness incidence rates below the state and national averages for companies within the same industry classification.”

“VPP Star is another great accomplishment but we are most proud of the safety culture that VPP endorses,” said Jared Hunsaker, general manager of the Kimball facility, in a press release. “Thanks to our employees’ efforts we work at one of the safest [treatment, storage and disposal facilities] in the country. Our safety practices protect employees and the community while assuring our customers that their waste is being handled in accordance with the highest OSHA standards.”