Kimball International Safety Director Named to Indiana Board of Safety Review
Posted By Editor on May 10, 2010
A strong reputation and positive exposure of successful safety programs has led to a Governor’s appointment for Kimball International, Inc. , the Jasper-based manufacturer of office furniture and electronics components.
Vince Cooke, Kimball International’s Corporate Director, Employee Safety and Security, was recently appointed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels to serve on the State’s Board of Safety Review. He will begin attending the monthly meetings composed of the Indiana Commissioner of Labor, the Deputy Commissioner, and Indiana’s OSHA advisor, along with other officials and industry representatives. Cooke’s appointment is effective immediately and will continue through April 2013.
Board of Safety Review members review all safety orders or citations issued by IOSHA (Indiana Occupational Safety & Health Administration). Each member acts as an Administrative Law Judge on cases that may be disputed or contested. The positions are appointed by the Commissioner of Labor with final approval by the Governor. Membership of the Board consists of representatives of Labor, Management and Private Industry.
Indiana Commissioner of Labor, Lori Torres nominated Cooke for the Governor’s consideration after she became more familiar with Kimball International, its values, safety culture, and outstanding safety record, following the presentation of OHSA’s VPP STAR Awards to three newly-certified Kimball facilities.
Kimball International recently achieved an unprecedented five “STAR” certified facilities under the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in recognition of outstanding occupational safety and health management programs. Kimball International was the first Indiana-based company to achieve a VPP STAR workplace certification. The VPP is administered in Indiana under the Department of Labor.
“Kimball International’s commitment to safety is well known and respected in the state of Indiana, through our ten plus years of experience and partnership with the State through the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program,” said Cooke. “When I think of our corporate commitment to safety, this is a good opportunity to share our experiences well beyond the walls of our Company and network with others in our State for the benefit of all.”
Indicative of Kimball’s emphasis on workplace safety, the Kimball Office manufacturing plant in Salem, Indiana recently celebrated a milestone achievement of three million safe hours worked without a lost time incident.
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