The Novus facility was presented with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program’s highest honor, the VPP Star Certification. Novus is only the 40th VPP-certified site in Arkansas, with less than 2,500 currently certified sites across the U.S. Novus is a leading provider of animal health and nutrition products worldwide, and its Little Rock facility is responsible for the production of approximately 15 percent of its globally-sold products.

“This is something we’ve been working toward for years,” said Jeff Klopfenstein, president of the Novus methionine business unit. “As a company, we strive to set the standards for solutions, service, and sustainability, and safety is an integral part of sustainability.”

Beginning in 1982, the VPP began working to reduce injury and illness rates in private industry by recognizing those who maintain effective safety and health management protocols. To be certified, a company must have injury and illness rates below the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and meet predefined criteria by OSHA. Applicants must apply and be rigorously inspected by health and safety professionals to receive and maintain certification. The Little Rock facility has not had a recordable injury or illness in the past three calendar years.

Novus marked the accomplishment with a celebratory lunch followed by a ceremonial raising of the VPP Star flag at the site. Employees, community and government officials, and the executive leadership of Novus International were in attendance, including Novus’s president and CEO François Fraudeau and Little Rock Executive Plant Manager John Farmer.

“We are proud to be accepting this honor from OSHA. Our industry is not mandated to uphold the standards in this program, but we believe it is simply the right thing to do for our employees and our community. We hope to set an example for other companies to join us in VPP and promote safety as well,” said Farmer.

The Little Rock facility has been in production since 2006 and employs about 40 workers. Novus’s MHA® and MFP® feed supplements, as well as MINTREX® chelated trace minerals, are manufactured in Little Rock.