ATLANTA, Ga. – Weyerhaeuser has rolled out the TAPPISAFE Safety Orientation Program at the Columbus, Mississippi manufacturing facility. TAPPISAFE, a service of TAPPI offered in partnership with Alliance Safety Council, provides a standardized safety orientation program for contractors and is the only safety orientation program specifically designed for the industry, by the industry.  

“The TAPPISAFE program provides Weyerhaeuser with a proven safety orientation system designed specifically for the pulp and paper industry that will ensure all contractors working on our site have the same safety orientation,” states Benjy Bruce, Mill Safety Manager. “The comprehensive program provides several key benefits including easy tracking and verification of each contractor’s safety orientation status and continuous updates to ensure it meets all current OSHA standards. It also features orientation sessions that focus on facility-specific training that addresses local safety considerations and circumstances as well as a session that covers the basics of safety orientation.”  

The TAPPISAFE program provides a solid foundation in safety by addressing OSHA required awareness level safety orientation for any supplier or contractors that works in a pulp, paper or packaging facility. Key aspects of the program include: standardized testing that helps reduce redundant and potentially costly safety orientations, up-to-date OSHA compliance information, a standardized online basic safety orientation system, and instantly verifiable records. Key topics covered include hazard communications, personal protective equipment, hearing conservation, elevated work platforms, basic electrical work practices, material handling, hand powered tools, vehicle safety and confined space.

Weyerhaeuser Company is one of the world's largest forest products companies and began operations in 1900. The company grows and harvests trees, builds homes and makes a range of forest products. At the end of 2011, Weyerhaeuser had approximately 12,800 employees in 11 countries. The Columbus mill produces bleached Kraft pulp for fluff, paper grade and specialty applications.

TAPPISAFE Programs also include; PSM (Process Safety Management), Truck Driver orientation and Employee orientation.

The Alliance Safety Council has over 20 years of proven success in developing, delivering and maintaining contractor safety orientations and has administered more than 1.2 million training units.