Wyeth Biotech is first New England biopharmaceutical plant to enter OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs, according to an agency release Friday. The Andover, Mass., company was officially accepted into the program in a ceremony held Friday in Andover.

Wyeth's Andover research, development and manufacturing campus and its Wilmington administrative offices have been approved for three years of participation in the VPP at the "star," or highest achievement, level, according to the OSHA release.

The acceptance followed an OSHA team's week-long onsite review, according to the agency. The team found that the facilities' safety and health programs were consistent with the high quality expected of VPP participants, and their injury and illness rates were well below the industry average.

Among the areas of excellence identified during OSHA's review was extensive use of process hazard analysis to identify and address risks associated with new or existing processes and equipment.