D. C. Taylor Co.’s Iowa Operations Now VPP Certified
On September 29, 2025, D. C. Taylor Co. received notification that its certification as a STAR mobile worksite in the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) was approved. Not only is the achievement significant to the company, but it also marks a first for IOSHA. “D. C. Taylor Co., the first and the only mobile worksite in Iowa,” says Kirk Dighton, Safety Manager, D. C. Taylor Co., Cedar Rapids, IA.
D. C. Taylor Co.’s work toward certification began in 2018. The 7-year journey required completion of the VPP’s 19 elements, which include management commitment and planning, accident investigation, and a disciplinary program. “About six months after I obtained this position, I had a whiteboard on my office wall that I filled with these 19 elements and their status. We needed to accomplish these and get proficient before we could even apply for the certification,” Dighton says. Creating, establishing, and documenting these processes wasn’t enough. IOSHA required proof of their implementation and secured it when they visited the office and several jobsites for impromptu interviews with D. C. Taylor Co. staff and field laborers.
In the letter from IOSHA Labor Commissioner/lOSHA Division Administrator Adam Lathrop, he provided his congratulations, stating, “Your management commitment and employee involvement are a testament to your pursuit of the core VPP goal of Continuous Improvement in Occupational Safety and Health.”
“Our no. 1 core value is safety. Our main focus is fewer injuries and illnesses. This certification provides outward evidence of our commitment to our employees’ safety,” says Dighton. He is grateful that President Brent Taylor and the executive team are so committed to building a culture of care and safety, and credits both office staff and crews for the vital role they all played in achieving this recognition.
While the current certification only applies to the Iowa Designated Geographical Area in Region VII, the principles and processes undertaken in pursuit of the STAR certification are being applied throughout the entire company, including its offices in Barrington, IL; Peoria, AZ; and Concord, CA. Pursuing additional certification for other regional areas where the company operates is planned. “We’re an Iowa OSHA VPP mobile worksite, but that still applies to every job site in the United States, because we follow the same standard companywide,” concludes Dighton.
About D. C. Taylor Co.
D. C. Taylor Co. is a Cedar Rapids, IA-based roofing contractor with 75+ years of experience installing, repairing, and maintaining roofs at commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities. With service centers in four states and 17 service and roofing crews, D. C. Taylor Co. is poised to respond to customer needs quickly and efficiently. For more information on D. C. Taylor Co., visit www.dctaylorco.com.
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