[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING VPP STATUS AT L.L. BEAN WORKPLACES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHELLIE PINGREE

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2013

  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a 
corporation based in my district, L.L. Bean, for achieving the highest 
standards of workplace safety through OSHA's Voluntary Protection 
Program (VPP) at its Desert Road Service Center in Freeport, Maine.
  VPP is OSHA's official recognition of the outstanding efforts of 
employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety 
and health. Achieving the status requires a rigorous onsite evaluation 
to ensure that a workplace meets high performance-based standards of 
preventing occupational safety and health hazards. With missed workdays 
well below their industries' averages, VPP worksites are some of the 
safest places to work in the country.
  L.L. Bean has shown an incredible commitment to the program and its 
employees. Since 2007, the company has achieved VPP status at it 
Brunswick, Maine, manufacturing facility, its call centers, Freeport 
outlet store, and now Star Status at the Desert Road Service Center, 
which employs 200 people and handles returns for its vast global 
business. The company continues to work toward VPP status at all its 
facilities.
  I am not only proud of L.L. Bean for these accomplishments, but also 
for the way it has involved its employees in achieving them. By fully 
engaging them in the process, the company has made employees feel safer 
at work, as well as more appreciated, prized, and respected.
  My congratulations and appreciation go to all of the company's 
owners, managers, and staff for their incredible leadership in 
workplace safety.

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