Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) today announced that its uniform rental facility in Searcy, AR has received Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Merit certification from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). VPP is OSHA’s highest recognition for the practice of and commitment to exemplary occupational safety and health.

"This facility has done a wonderful job creating a safety culture," said Mary Walter, Director of Arkansas OSHA VPP. "It's been a long journey and I congratulate this location for keeping the spirit and enthusiasm for VPP alive and for having safety at the heart of this company."

The Searcy facility becomes only the 53rd VPP site in the state of Arkansas. It is the seventh Cintas uniform rental operation to receive VPP recognition, the eighth company-wide and the first under federal OSHA jurisdiction.

The Cintas uniform rental facility in Searcy first began the VPP process five years ago. The designation required monthly, rigorous audits and the close collaboration between management and employee-partners to achieve full engagement to continuous safety improvement. Approximately 75 people work at the facility.

“This has been a five year journey for all of the employee-partners here in Searcy and everyone here has contributed in so many ways,” said Lester Allen, General Manager. I want each of you to know how much I appreciate and acknowledge all that you have done to help our location achieve VPP.

Cintas Corporation has approximately 290 facilities throughout the world actively pursuing VPP recognition by OSHA or the equivalent under a similar certifying body. This includes operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Honduras.

About Cintas

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for more than 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.