THEN.....

The parent of the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee was the Administrative Committee of the State Safety Museum started in 1920. Fifteen years later, in July 1935, the State Industrial Safety Committee was formed and assumed the responsibilities of this Administrative Committee. One such responsibility included a program to present awards to industries in the State having good safety records. This Awards Program, now known as the "Governor's Occupational Safety & Health Awards Program", is presently in its 84th year and is now open to both private and public employers regardless of size.

The Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Awards Program is based on the calendar year with Recognition and Group Awards presented to those with a yearly lost time incident rate of 3.0 or less. Citation of Merit, Division of Public Safety & Occupational Safety and Health, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and Governor's Awards are given to those without any work-related lost time from injury or illness over one year to four consecutive years, respectively. A Governor's Continued Excellence Award is awarded for five or more consecutive years. Since its inception in 1927, thousands of awards have been earned and the program has played an important role in promoting a safer and healthier workplace.

NOW.....

2011 marked the 84th year of the Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Awards Program. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee and the New Jersey State Safety Council are searching avenues to commemorate the programs continuance and ways to enhance the program and encourage both private and public sectors to participate.

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AWARD PRESENTATIONS.....

Five area dinners are held to publicly recognize the employers and employees who have, during the calendar year, worked without any work-related lost time from injury or illness. A company may send as many employees to the dinners as they choose. The dinners are attended by State officials and representatives, the Chairman of the New Jersey State Industrial Safety Committee, the President of the New Jersey State Safety Council and the area dinner Chairs.

The dinners for 2012 are noted below:

Mercer/Monmouth Area Dinner
April 24, 2012
Scottish Rite Hall, 103 Dunns Mill Road, Bordentown, NJ

Middlesex/Somerset Area
May 2, 2012
The Buttonwood Manor, Route 34, Matawan, NJ

Union/Hudson Area Dinner
May 9, 2012
The Berkeley Plaza, 735 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ

Southern Area
May 16, 2012
Auletto's, 1849 Cooper Street, Almonesson, NJ

Northern Area
May 24, 2012
The Bethwood, 38 Lackawanna Avenue, Totowa, NJ

If you would like to participate in the 84th Annual Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Awards Program for achievement in the prevention of workplace injury and illness, please complete the entry form and return to the address indicated.

For additional information, please contact Theresa Kramarz at (609) 984-4738.