+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | Historic         |   | 4801A Urbana Pike |
|                            | Preservation     |   |                   |
| U.S. Department of the     | Training Center  |   | Frederick, MD     |
| Interior                   |                  |   | 21704             |
|                            | Use the complete |   |                   |
|                            | site name here   |   | \(301\) 663-8206  |
|                            | (e.g. Palo Alto  |   | x109 Phone        |
|                            | Battlefield      |   |                   |
|                            | Historic Site).  |   | \(301\) 663-8032  |
|                            |                  |   | fax               |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

Historic Preservation Training Center News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

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For Release:

July 22, 2006

Contact: Steve Hastings, HPTC Collateral Duty Safety Officer

301-663-8206 x134 steve_hastings@nps.gov

**Historic Preservation Training Center Celebrates 555 Days without a
Serious Injury.**

Employees of the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training
Center (HPTC) attended an employee picnic today where they were
commended for achieving 555 days without a serious injury. HPTC
Superintendent Tom McGrath recognized the contributions of every
employee of the Center by presenting each person with a Time-Off Award
Certificate. The HPTC has had no incidents now recorded by OSHA as the
DART (Days Away, Restricted, or transferred) category for more than
eighteen months.

Superintendent McGrath noted he was "extremely proud to be able to
recognize the hard work, dedication and diligence that every HPTC
employee has made towards maintaining safety as our constant number one
priority." The award recognizes the staff efforts to achieve a serious
injury-free work environment for an organization that works primarily in
the construction industry, which is well-known for its inherent hazards.
The HPTC provides preservation construction services and training on a
reimbursable basis to national parks Servicewide. The HPTC uses its
unique dual mission of competency training and delivery of preservation
services to continually reinforce safe practices at its projects and
training events. Mr. McGrath cited the participation of the Center's
Collateral Duty Safety Officer in the national Safety Officer
Certification process, re-establishment of an active Center Safety
Committee, consistent accident and "near miss" investigation procedures,
project team monitoring and reinforcement of safe work site conditions,
and a comprehensive safety training program as contributing factors in
the Centers ongoing success in reducing serious accidents.

The HPTC recently responded to the Servicewide Safety Stand-Down by
instituting a comprehensive facility inspection and will celebrate 555
days without a DART incident at their July picnic. According to
Superintendent McGrath "we immediately saw the Stand-Down as an
opportunity to encourage safety awareness by conducting a walk- through
work site safety evaluation of our facility. This is where we work and
we want to make it safer. Our picnic is when we celebrate our teamwork
and project accomplishments. This year we can also include our
celebration as a Stand-Down activity in that we are recognizing the
results of our commitment of time, resources and training to safety that
has resulted in no serious injuries"