Winona State University will be recognized for excellence in workplace safety and health at the Governor’s Safety Awards luncheon on May 5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. WSU is one of 309 employers to be honored through the awards program, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council. This is the third year in a row Winona State University has received this award. WSU will be honored with the Meritorious Achievement Award in Occupational Safety.
“Employers like Winona State University know that safety isn’t automatic,” said Paul Aasen, president of the Minnesota Safety Council. “It takes attention, dedication and continuous effort to protect their employees.”
Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance. Applicants are judged on several years of injury data as it compares with their industry’s national statistics, and on their progress in implementing a comprehensive safety program. Winners are recognized at three levels:
- Meritorious Achievement (193 winners): Incidence rates that are better than the industry average for at least three years, and a score between 50 and 74 on a 100-point safety program evaluation scale.
- Outstanding Achievement (77 winners): Continuing improvement and/or a continuing outstanding record with incident rates that are 51%-90% better than the industry average, and a score between 75 and 90 on the safety program evaluation scale.
- Award of Honor (39 winners): Incidence rates at least 91% better than the industry average, and a score between 91 and 100 on the safety program evaluation scale.
The Governor’s Safety Awards luncheon is part of the 82nd Minnesota Safety & Health Conference, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council. The conference is the oldest and largest gathering of workplace safety and health professionals in the region. The Minnesota Safety Council, founded in 1928, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minnesota by preventing unintentional injuries (“accidents”).
For more information Erin Paulson at EPaulson@winona.edu
