Cintas Corporation announced that its two locations in Cumberland, Md. received Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The announcement took place during a special ceremony on Aug. 22 at 11800 Upper Potomac Industrial Park Street in Cumberland.

Special guests included Mark Widmyer, Western Maryland Outreach Coordinator for Gov. Larry Hogan; Julianna Albowicz, Western Maryland Outreach Coordinator for Sen. Chris Van Hollen; Kelly Schulz, Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor; Steven Lakin, Deputy Commissioner, Maryland Department of Labor; along with several other government officials and Cintas employee-partners.

VPP Star is OSHA’s highest recognition for the practice of and commitment to exemplary occupational safety and health, earned by businesses who meet rigorous safety requirements. Cintas is the number one participant in the nation for companies with VPP sites, with approximately 250 facilities throughout the world actively pursuing VPP recognition by OSHA or the equivalent under a similar certifying body.

“At Cintas, we believe in working hard to ensure every partner returns home to their loved ones safely at the end of the day,” said Dave Show, General Manager at Cintas Cumberland. “We are incredibly proud of our Cumberland employee-partners for earning this high honor and look forward to seeing them serve as an example for other facilities seeking to earn VPP Star certification. 

Since Cintas’ East Central group began its VPP journey in 2014, Cumberland is the ninth location to earn this achievement. The Cumberland location officially began the VPP process in October 2017 and received VPP certification just four months later in February of 2018.

Since 2011, 79 Cintas facilities have been awarded the VPP Star certification, with 90 total locations recognized under the VPP program. This includes operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Honduras.