Official Site of The State of New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 2, 2023

TRENTON – Today, 29 New Jersey employers were honored with Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Awards, a program to recognize worksites – public and private – that have demonstrated effective safety and health programs resulting in the prevention of job-related injuries and illnesses.

The awards are sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), the U.S Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee (NJSISC).

“It is our shared responsibility to foster an atmosphere where respect, trust, and open dialogue are the standard when it comes to promoting safe and healthy work environments,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “My sincerest appreciation goes out to our awardees and the employers who have clearly demonstrated their care and concern for their employees by continually improving health and safety training and protocols.”

The 94^th Annual Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Awards were presented during OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week Kickoff Lunch & Learn Webinar, which highlighted the roles of management and employees in finding and fixing hazards to ensure workplaces remain healthy and safe. 

Speakers included OSHA Region 2 Compliance Assistance Specialist Rob Colman, OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance Inanje Mintz, and Commissioner Asaro-Angelo, as well as well as testimonies from subject-matter experts from Wheelabrator/WIN Waste, Tropicana Beverage, and Covanta Camden.

A national event held each August, Safe + Sound Week takes place this year from August 7-13, and is a time to recognize the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offer information and ideas on how to keep workers safe.  

“Congratulations to the employers selected for this year’s Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Awards. These exemplary businesses have a system, not just good intentions, and make safety a core value for their workers and workplaces,” said U.S. Department of Labor OSHA Regional Administrator Richard Mendelson in New York. “During Safe + Sound Week and throughout the year, we urge every employer in New Jersey to commit to implementing a program that drives continuous improvement in safety and health.”

“It is a great honor to witness the commitment by these Garden State employers to provide safe and healthful workplaces for their employees,” said Denis Crayon, chair of the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee. “Being recognized by these awards is a testament to each of these organizations for their dedication to ensure their employees work safely in a healthy environment yesterday, today, and tomorrow. These employers recognize their employees are the backbone of their families and communities and should be encouraged to continue their efforts and mentor others to achieve these recognitions.”

Since its establishment in 1927, the Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Awards program has promoted safer and healthier workplaces with thousands of awards being earned by Garden State employers. 

The New Jersey Governor’s Award for Safety and Health: Excellence goes to employers who exemplify the highest level of safety and health performance by participating in voluntary safety and health achievement programs, demonstrating a comprehensive safety and health culture, and striving for continuous improvement.

The New Jersey Governor’s Award for Safety and Health: Performance acknowledges employers who have shown a strong commitment to improving their safety and health programs by utilizing the NJDOL OSHA On-Site Consultation Program, or Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program, and who have established robust safety and health program management systems as evidenced by low injury and illness rates.

A complete list of awardees is below:

Last year, NJDOL, OSHA, and NJSISC signed an agreement renewing their collaborative relationship to continue to foster safer and healthier workplaces in New Jersey.

Through its Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health, the NJDOL offers both private and public sector employers free onsite consultation visits to assess workplace safety and health. The purpose is to help employers comply with OSHA regulations and keep employees safe, but does not result in citations, penalties, or fines. The NJDOL can also assist businesses by providing safety training courses. For more information, or to sign up for a free workplace health and safety consultation or training, please visit the Division’s recently updated website: https://www.nj.gov/labor/safetyandhealth/.

OSHA, which was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, inspects and evaluates health and safety for the private industry, setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

The NJSISC was established within the NJDOL in accordance with N.J.S.A. 34:6A-15 to advise the Labor Commissioner on proposed rules to be adopted under the Worker Health and Safety Act and on general matters of safety promotion and accident prevention. Membership is comprised of representatives from across the state who are leaders in the field of accident prevention or are responsible for accident prevention in their place of work.

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