Toyota Facility Receives Highest Safety Status in California

Toyota North American Parts Center California (NAPCC), the automotive warehouse parts operation in Ontario, Calif. that supports accessory and replacement parts business for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that it has achieved Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status, the highest level of safety and health management bestowed from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in California (Cal/OSHA). The honor marks the first time an automobile company in the U.S. has been recognized with VPP Star status.

The OSHA VPP Star Program recognizes leaders in occupational safety and health that are successfully protecting workers from death, injury, and illness by implementing comprehensive and effective safety and health programs. To achieve VPP Star status, Toyota NAPCC excelled in a rigid set of qualifications, including management leadership and employee involvement; worksite analysis; hazard prevention and control; and safety and health training.

"Respect for People and Continuous Improvement are Toyota's guiding principles," said Jane Beseda, Group Vice President and General Manager Customer Services Division, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS). "The VPP Star status demonstrates our commitment to protecting our associates and dedication to improving environmental health and safety across all of our businesses. We're very proud to join a very elite group of worksites through this achievement. Our ultimate goal is to have all of Toyota's North American parts operation sites earn VPP Star status."

The award is the hallmark of OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in which employees, management and OSHA all work together to implement safety and health programs and processes that protect workers more effectively than simply complying with OSHA regulations. The program also recognizes participants for their dedication to safety excellence. As the highest honor given by the VPP, the Star award is reserved for participants that exceed OSHA standards, thereby making them models for their specific industries.

"We are impressed with Toyota's management and employees for their dedication to safety practices in the workplace," said DIR Director John Duncan. "They have put in place creative and industrious methods to promote a safe working environment and are an exemplary model to follow among California's more than 1.2 million employers, especially in the automotive industry."

"Besides having essential safety programs in place, the Star award requires evidence of a high level of employee involvement," said Beseda. "This award is truly representative of Toyota's commitment to safety, and a testament to the teamwork and dedication that Toyota associates demonstrate on a daily basis."

Fewer than 1,900 out of approximately 8.9 million work sites throughout the United States have earned federal or state VPP Star recognition. In the State of California, only 64 out of 1.2 million worksites have achieved VPP Star status.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs over 36,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.6 million vehicles in 2007.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, protects workers and the public from safety hazards through its Cal/OSHA, elevator, amusement ride, aerial tramway, ski lift and pressure vessel programs, and provides consultative assistance to employers.

Source: Toyota