JASPER, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Labor has presented a “Merit” Certification to Jasper Engines and Transmissions through the state’s Voluntary Protection Program (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 type of business, can participate in VPP, through which management and employees work together to create and maintain a healthy working environment.

The Jasper, Ind., facility is the first of the company’s remanufacturing facilities to achieve VPP status, and is one of only 49 Indiana companies to reach this level.

“It is always gratifying to witness companies that proactively address and manage workplace safety and health,” said Commissioner of Labor Lori Torres. “The Department of Labor is pleased to partner with and congratulates Jasper Engines and Transmissions for achieving VPP ‘Merit’ status.”

“The Jasper Safety Committee has been working on this program and its benchmarks for two years,” says Jason Pieper, Jasper safety director. “We understand we still have a lot of work to do, but we have now created more awareness, have gotten more associate involvement and made sure Jasper has safety systems in place.”

Jasper has been successful in reducing the number of OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses by 39 percent in a three-year span. “VPP sites are demonstrated leaders in the occupational safety and health arena,” added Torres. “The reduction of recordable injuries and illnesses at Jasper is proof-positive in how successful implementation of a safety and health management system has an impact on not only injury and illness rates, but also on employee satisfaction and morale.”

“The management commitment and associate involvement are the two main components of the VPP program,” added Pieper. “Jasper has both these elements, which has improved our safety program. Jasper’s goal is to have all our remanufacturing sites in the VPP program.”