The Indiana Department of Labor has announced the Star Certification of Jasper Engines and Transmissions’ Crawford County, Ind., remanufacturing facility in Indiana’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

A ceremony, held July 22 at the Crawford County facility, provided an opportunity for Associates, staff and management to showcase their exemplary safety status to state elected and labor officials. 

JASPER Safety Director Jason Pieper told Associates that management commitment and Associate involvement are the biggest elements of the VPP program.  “JASPER has a great safety culture,” said Pieper.  “I want to thank our Executive team, our Managers and our Leaders that do a great job supporting our safety programs.  Earning Star certification is just the foundation for where we want to be in our continuing safety journey.” 

VPP, Indiana’s Voluntary Protection Program, was established to recognize and promote safety and health management programs throughout the state. All companies, regardless of size or business, can participate in VPP - where management and employees work together to create and maintain a healthy working environment.

“You are one of just 59 VPP Star Certified sites in the state of Indiana, and there are over 480,000 employers in the state,” says Beth Gonzalez, VPP Team Leader for the Indiana Department of Labor. “What I see at this site is a group of Associates who are working together so no one gets injured on the job.” 

“It’s about Continuous Improvement,” said Zach Bawel, JASPER President and Chief Operating Officer. “Associates have done a great job submitting safety ideas as part of JASPER’s Continuous Improvement program.  But we need to continue submitting these safety ideas, because the most important thing as Associate-Owners of the company is that our fellow owners go home safely.”

The Crawford County facility achieved VPP Merit Certification in September 2010.  The Jasper, Indiana, remanufacturing facility earned its initial Merit Certification in 2008 and achieved Star Certification in 2012.