AUBURN – General Electric’s Consumer and Industrial Products manufacturing plant has been recertified for an additional five-year membership in the “Star” Voluntary Protection Program of the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The plant, which produces electrical parts for circuit breakers and switchgear, employs 176 workers.

The recertification came after an OSHA team’s thorough on-site review of the plant’s safety and health programs, interviews with employees and a complete tour of the site. The plant was first certified in July 1997 and renewed in July 2001.

Requirements for application to the program include a high degree of management support and employee involvement; a high-quality work site hazard analysis; prevention and control programs; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join the program. For more information, contact OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program manager in Boston at (617) 565-9890.