Marathon Petroleum’s Illinois Refining Division (IRD) celebrated its 20th year of Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status on May 7 with a refinery-wide luncheon. IRD’s VPP Committee and Safety Department organized the celebration for nearly 1,000 employees and contractors, where OSHA Area Director Aaron Priddy spoke about many of IRD’s accomplishments as a VPP Star member. Among them – IRD was the first refinery in Illinois to achieve the VPP Star certification and is the second-longest tenured VPP site in southern Illinois.

“Twenty years as an OSHA VPP Star site is a significant milestone and one that I am honored to celebrate with IRD’s employees and contractors,” stated IRD Division Manager Brad McKain.

Additionally, IRD has mentored eight on-site contractors to achieve their VPP accreditation. Embedded VPP contractors at IRD include Bay Safety, C&I Engineering, Clean Harbors, Gribbins, Lytle Electric, SDR, Senco Construction and Stewart Security.

“Twenty years of being a VPP Starr facility is an incredible accomplishment for the employees at IRD,” noted HES Professional Matt Bailey. “The hard work and dedication that goes into maintaining this certification is a big deal. The team effort involves the Refinery Leadership Team, Fuels Committee, VPP Committee, Emergency Response Team, CARES Committee, Area Teams, PSM Group, Inclusion Team, Wellness Committee, contractors, and every employee committed to working safely at the Illinois Refining Division. I am very proud of being a part of this elite group, and IRD continues to be a role model to other organizations striving to become VPP facilities.”  

IRD is understandably proud of this milestone anniversary, and for holding the record for most contractor VPP partners in Region V.  At the conclusion of the site-wide celebration, participants were reminded that they have the right – and the responsibility – to ensure they and their co-workers go home uninjured at the end of each shift.