L.L. Bean becomes 15th Maine employer to exceed OSHA regulations

BRUNSWICK, Maine --Outdoor sporting goods retailer L.L.Bean has become the 15th Maine employer to enroll in a program that lets companies develop and maintain employee protections beyond federal safety regulations.

A ceremony on Tuesday marked the entry of L.L. Bean's Brunswick manufacturing facility into the Voluntary Protection Program.

Its acceptance comes after a thorough examination by the Occupational Safety Health Administriation that included a weeklong onsite review of its application and safety and health management programs.

Other Maine companies enrolled in the program include Bangor Hydro-Electric Co., Verso Paper in Jay, Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, Louisiana Pacific in Houlton, UNUM in Portland and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Nationally, 1,869 other worksites are in the Voluntary Protection Program.