Wyeth’s Pearl River,
The VPP program began in 1982 as a proactive effort to encourage safety and health management through collaboration between OSHA, corporate management, and facility workers. It has since become the gold standard for workplace safety.
Pearl River’s initiatives began nearly three years ago when "gap improvement" teams consisting of volunteers across the facility were set up to address safety deficiencies, says Susan Rera, the site's associate director of safety. The teams dealt with each issue one by one until the facility was ready for VPP consideration. Pearl River joins a number of other Wyeth facilities that have star quality. “Any site on the star list has gone well beyond what it is required to do,” says Ted Fitzgerald, an OSHA spokesperson. Other pharma facilities with VPP star designations: Medicinal Chemicals and Botanical ProductsDSM Nutrional Products, Inc., Freeport,
Noramco of Delaware, Wilmington,
Pfizer Global Kalamzaoo Operations, Kalamazoo,
Wyeth Biotech, Sanford,
Baxter McGaw Park, Waukegan,
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Evansville,
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mount Vernon,
Lilly Technology Center, Indianapolis,
Noramco of Athens, Athens,
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover,
Pfizer Global Manufacturing - Brooklyn Facility, Brooklyn,
Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Caguas, PR (Merit)*
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, Broomfield, CO (Merit)*
Schering Plough - Miami Lakes Ops., Miami Lakes,
Schering Plough Healthcare Products, Cleveland,
Wyeth Chemical Development, Rouses Point,
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Rouses Point,
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Pearl River,
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Plant B, Richmond,
Wyeth Research Drug Testing Facility, Chazy,
Ortho Raritan Plant, Raritan,
Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Rochester Plant, Rochester,
Monsanto Augusta Posilac Plant, Augusta,
Pfizer Global Manufacturing, White Hall,
Wyeth Biotech Andover-Wilimington,
* “Merit” is one level below “star” designation
