By Merritt                                             H.R. No. 341
         76R8427 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Since 1984, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)
 1-2     has promoted a safer and more cooperative work environment for
 1-3     countless people, establishing common goals and objectives between
 1-4     labor, management, and the Occupational Safety and Health
 1-5     Administration (OSHA); and
 1-6           WHEREAS, With the cooperation and valued input of individual
 1-7     business members and their employees, OSHA and the VPP coordinate
 1-8     reasonable, mutually beneficial measurement criteria and action
 1-9     guidelines to increase workplace health and safety; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Nationally, more than 400 businesses are now members
1-11     of the VPP; Texas is part of the five-state Region VI alliance, the
1-12     largest such region in the United States, and the Lone Star State
1-13     is home to 78 of the VPP-Region VI facilities, a majority
1-14     participation that promises health and safety benefits for Texas
1-15     workers and businesses alike; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Initializing VPP status and diligent maintenance of
1-17     safety standards have lowered average worker injury rates at
1-18     participating sites, resulting in decreased workers' compensation
1-19     payouts and reduced lost work time, and increased employee morale
1-20     and boosted production; and
1-21           WHEREAS, One important factor in the great success of the
1-22     VPP, and Region VI in particular, has been the leadership of Bob
1-23     Griffin; his successful nine-year tenure as manager of Region VI
1-24     has been marked by steady growth encouraged by his dedication and
 2-1     enthusiasm; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, A 1961 engineering graduate of The University of
 2-3     Texas at Austin, Mr. Griffin  is a professional engineer licensed
 2-4     by the State of Texas; he has been with OSHA since 1971 and has
 2-5     served as area director in both Houston and Little Rock; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, The VPP has contributed greatly to the success and
 2-7     growth of participating Texas businesses, and Region VI manager Bob
 2-8     Griffin has been an integral force behind those advances; now,
 2-9     therefore, be it
2-10           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-11     Legislature hereby honor the Voluntary Protection Program and
2-12     former Region VI Manager Bob Griffin for the organization's
2-13     continuing efforts to improve the health and safety of Texas
2-14     workers; and, be it further
2-15           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-16     prepared for the Voluntary Protection Program and Mr. Griffin as an
2-17     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.