July 16, 2008

Tapemark receives safety and health award, recognized July 24

Workplace safety and health representatives from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) will recognize Tapemark for its achievement as a Minnesota Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (MNSHARP) worksite at 11 a.m., July 24, at 1685 Marthaler Lane, West St. Paul, Minn.

MNSHARP is a Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) program that recognizes companies where managers and employees work together to develop safety and health programs that go beyond basic compliance with all applicable OSHA standards and result in immediate and long-term prevention of job-related injuries and illnesses.

"Tapemark has shown great leadership in allocating both the time and the resources needed to reach this MNSHARP goal," said Steve Sviggum, DLI commissioner. "The company has focused its efforts to ensure that employee safety is a top priority. Their goal is the same as ours:  to ensure more employees return home safe and healthy each day."

To achieve MNSHARP status, the company worked with MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation to assemble a comprehensive safety and health program that includes management leadership and employee involvement, an allocation of resources to address safety issues, systems that identify and control workplace hazards, and a plan for employee safety training and education.

"Achieving MNSHARP recognition is a significant accomplishment for Tapemark employees and we would like to thank each and every one for their contribution," said Andy Rensink, president. "We are proud to be among the leading companies that have taken this step to promote employee safety."

Tapemark is a specialty contract manufacturer whose integrated converting capabilities include coating, printing, die cutting and packaging of complex components and products for the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer products markets.

Commissioner Sviggum and other DLI representatives will commemorate the company's employee-employer partnership by presenting a MNSHARP flag and a certificate that exempts the worksite from MNOSHA Compliance scheduled inspections for two years.

MNSHARP began in Minnesota in 1996. Tapemark is one of 30 active MNSHARP worksites in Minnesota. For more information, visit www.dli.mn.gov/mnsharp.asp.

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News media contact:
James Honerman
(651) 284-5313