Cintas First-Aid Plant Gains OR VPP Star

Cintas Corp., Mason, OH, recently announced that its first-aid and safety facility in Portland, OR, has qualified for Star certification by the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA). The VPP Star is the agency’s highest recognition for the practice of and commitment to occupational safety and health.

“Eliminating workplace injuries is the most important requirement for earning VPP Star,” said Rick Gerlach, sr. director of safety and health for Cintas, in a news release. “We could not have achieved this without the commitment from the local management and front-line employee partners.”

OSHA officials commended the Cintas location on their dedication to the program and recognized them as a leader and example for other businesses, the release said.

“The VPP distinction was 100% earned through our employee-partners want and desire to be recognized as a world-class safety operation,” said Matt Erickson, general manager. “Working safely and making smart, safe choices is something we do on a daily basis.”

The Portland location is one of only 21 businesses out of 107,000 in the state to achieve VPP status. Currently, 10% of Cintas location are VPP certified, with 271 locations in the process of achieving certification as VPP sites.