Wagner Smith Earns OSHA VPP Star

July 7, 2023,
The SRI Group is proud to announce that Wagner Smith Equipment (WSE) was awarded the VPP Star flag by the OSHA Director of the Fort Worth Area. This honor, received during a festive luncheon, was the culmination of a strenuous, yet rewarding, two-year journey.

WSE President, Matt Pinkerton had ambitiously committed to secure the coveted VPP Star Status at all five nationwide facilities, beginning with Burleson, TX headquarters. This ambition was, however, met almost immediately with the obstacles imposed by the pandemic.

With the invaluable assistance of SRI, Safety Manager, Jerry Phillips, remained undeterred. Together, we began the journey with an initial VPP Readiness Assessment. Following this, SRI implemented the Structured Safety Process™, which paved the way to completing the OSHA General Application. SRI’s Audit Day program was instrumental in preparing the WSE site for every eventuality during the extensive 3-day assessment.

Despite the adversity posed by the pandemic, WSE emerged as one of only two VPP applicants in 2021. OSHA conducted a VPP readiness audit from October 17–20, 2022. Their feedback was constructive, suggesting a couple of improvements which we swiftly put into action. In recognition of WSEs efforts, OSHA shared its tentative star recommendation during the closeout.

Fast forward a few months, and the coveted VPP flag was finally delivered. This is a testament to the perseverance, dedication, and commitment to safety from Wagner Smith. SRI is extremely proud and honored to assist WSE obtain OSHA VPP Star Status and we look forward to their continued success.

I wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for the invaluable assistance that SRI provided to Wagner-Smith Equipment Company throughout our journey to achieve VPP Star Status. Their expertise and guidance were instrumental in our successful attainment, and we are incredibly grateful for their support every step of the way.

Matt Pinkerton, President – Wagner Smith