November 04, 2024

Cardinal IG receives OSHA’s VPP Star status

Greenfield insulated glass plant receives high safety honor

Representatives from Cardinal IG Greenfield receive their flag and plaque designating their facility as a VPP Star Site, one of 43 in the state of Iowa and only 2,100 in the nation. Cardinal Glass Industries, the parent company of Cardinal IG Greenfield, is the largest fully integrated supplier of residential glass products in the world. Its subsidary location in Greenfield employs over 500 people and produces over 3.5 million insulated glass units annually. (Photo courtesy)

Cardinal IG Greenfield announced their Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Certification achievement from the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) Dec. 11 in a ceremony held at the plant.

Rod Roberts, Iowa Labor Commissioner; Joe Mullen, Consultation Manager; Russell Perry, IOSHA Administrator; Shashi Patel, Scott Hook, Dwayne Heckman, Dave Philippians, Iowa Division of Labor Consultation and Education, presented the official certification and VPP flag to plant leaderhsip and Cardinal employees with a reception and plant tours that followed.

OSHA’s VPP program began in 1982 and is designated to promote worksite safety and health by establishing a comprehensive safety and health management system with cooperative relationships between OSHA, workplace management and labor. Cardinal IG Greenfield underwent comprehensive evaultaion and review to quality for the program’s Star certification, OSHA’s highest level of recognition for employers and employees who demonstrate exemplary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety and health hazards, including the development, implementation and continuous improvement of their safety and health management system. Cardinal IG Greenfield is only one of 43 Star Certified sites in the State of Iowa, and one of 2,112 businesses nationally to achieve this distinction.

Cardinal Glass Industries, the parent company of Cardinal IG Greenfield, is the largest fully integrated supplier of residential glass products in the world with annual sales of over $2 billion, and 41 United States plant locations. Its subsidary location in Greenfield employs over 500 people and produces over 3.5 million insulated glass units annually.

“The designation of VPP Star status conferred by OSHA upon Cardinal IG Greenfield is a true honor. We are pleased to officially become part of the VPP family in Iowa and nationally. The results of these efforts over the last 36 months speaks to the comittment of the Cardinal IG Greenfield family to improving the lives of its employees through a focus on workplace health and safety, which is a journey with no summit,” said Steve Bricker, plant manager. “Achieving this certification began with our deisire to adhere to Cardinal IG’s company mission whereby safety is our first priority, to be driven by our core values, and that our employees are our greatest asset. Our VPP certification greatly compliments these endeavors.”

Bricker praised the team from IOSHA for their role in the plant’s certification and the plant’s safety directors Bret Skellenger and Alicia Christensen, as well as retired safety director, Jim Morris.

“Lastly, this great honor could never have been accomplished without every single person’s involement from our great Cardinal IG Greenfield family,” Bricker told those gathered.

Since 1974, Cardinal IG Greenfield has operated here. The plant currently employs approximately 530 workers over three shifts.