TUCSON, Ariz. – Brasfield & Gorrie recently attained Voluntary Protection Program Star certification at a Tucson, Arizona site where the general contractor is expanding Raytheon Missile Systems’ corporate headquarters.
VPP is an Occupational Safety & Health Administration cooperative program. The certification process requires an application that details risks associated with the project, an explanation of safety and health training, assurance that the applicant will correct hazards and more. VPP offers three programs, of which Star is the highest.
RMS is VPP Star certified, and the company sponsored Brasfield & Gorrie in the application. During the eight-month process, VPP authorities visited the site multiple times, audited the site and interviewed people involved with the project.
Of the 40 certified entities in Arizona, fewer than 10 are general contractors. Brasfield & Gorrie is the first RMS contractor to achieve this certification.
Participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to maintain VPP status. The project is Brasfield & Gorrie’s first VPP site.
The Raytheon Missile Systems site will include an advanced testing facility, a multi-purpose building, a customer access center and several additional buildings, as well as infrastructure upgrades such as new laboratories and testing facilities, engineering and manufacturing enhancements and high-powered computing capability. It is planned for completion in 2019.