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HEBRON, Ky. (March 25, 2026) – This week, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leaders at Ancra Cargo, a leading designer and manufacturer of cargo securement systems, to recognize the company for becoming the latest employer to join Kentucky’s Voluntary Protection Partnership (VPP) program. During his stop at the company’s headquarters in Hebron, Gov. Beshear presented a plaque to company officials and praised the company for its commitment to the safety and health of its workers.
“Our workforce is fueling our economic success, and these hardworking Kentuckians deserve to know they are safe in their workplace and able to return to their families each day,” said Gov. Beshear. “Companies like Ancra Cargo are showing that’s possible through their commitment to ensuring the safety of their employees. I was honored to recognize this company and their efforts in Hebron.”
The VPP program is one of three partnership programs available to employers through the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program’s Division of Education and Training, also known as KYSAFE. Employers must meet rigorous qualifying criteria and undergo an extensive onsite evaluation to be accepted into the program.
“As a proud Kentucky-based company, we are grateful for the state’s leadership in supporting safe workplaces that empower our employees, strengthen our communities and drive economic growth,” Ancra Cargo President Larry Bethel said. “This partnership reinforces our promise to ensure every team member returns home safely each day, and we look forward to building on this foundation for years to come.”
Ancra Cargo was accepted into the program in December 2025 after completing an extensive, four-year evaluation. During that period, the company moved its headquarters from Erlanger to Hebron. The company has established a strong safety culture built around employee engagement, including the use of creative safety videos produced onsite and at other company facilities.
“With Ancra Cargo joining us, we now have 20 VPP Star sites in Kentucky, tying the highest number we’ve ever had,” KYSAFE Partnership Program Manager Brian Black said. “These sites are industry leaders, and that status places them among the elite in occupational safety and health.”
Through partnership programs and voluntary surveys, Kentucky employers participated in 587 free consultative KYSAFE visits in 2025 to pre-emptively identify potential workplace hazards. By agreeing to remedy issues identified during visits, employers were able to avoid more than $35.9 million in potential penalties.
Education and Labor Cabinet Secretary Jamie Link encouraged more Kentucky employers to consider partnering with KYSAFE to take advantage of free consultative services, educational opportunities and technical assistance to improve safety and health performance in the workplace: “Those programs not only make workplaces safer but also protect bottom lines.”
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