The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Connie DeWitte, announced that Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) was chosen as the 2004 Unit Winner of the Navy League’s Admiral Vern Clark Safety Award. 

This award program was established to stimulate safety through ideas and programs and provides special recognition to individuals, units or organizations who best exemplify and advance a culture of safety. “From visiting the Shipyard and observing your leadership and exceptional progress, I am delighted to see PSNS & IMF receiving this well-deserved recognition,” said DeWitte.

More than 10,000 personnel at PSNS & IMF accomplish complex operations and requirements of an industrial activity while making safety its top priority.  The injury and illness rate has dropped by 45 percent since the beginning of 2003, which is a direct result of the Shipyard’s cultural change that demonstrates personal ownership of safety at all levels of the organization through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). PSNS & IMF was the first naval shipyard to embrace VPP and is currently in the process of applying for VPP Star Status, which recognizes organizations that distinguish themselves with the highest level of excellence in safety and health.

PSNS & IMF continues to implement long range plans and goals to improve program leadership and increase worker participation through the VPP. The safety and health programs are tailored to the needs of its industrial work environment. 

“We are starting to make a difference-our Shipyard safety culture is improving-and we are seeing a significant reduction in our number and severity of injuries, but our work is not done,” said Capt. Orzalli, shipyard commander. “We must continue our efforts in making this one of the safest places to work in the Nation.”