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Air Products Leads Large Chemical Companies in Safety

Air Products Leads Large Chemical Companies in Safety

Published 05-17-00

Submitted by Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) had the best safety record of large-scale chemical manufacturers in the U.S. for 1999, according to Responsible Care® performance measure data recently released by the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA).* The company's frequency of recordable injuries—employee injuries which must be recorded under Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines—was 1.04 per 200,000 employee hours worked. Air Products' lost-time injury frequency rate, a measure of more serious injuries, was 0.50 per 200,000 employee hours worked. Both safety statistics were at least 35% lower than the average results for large-sized chemical companies.

Eugene Ervin, Director of Corporate Environment, Health and Safety at Air Products, reflected on the results. "We're proud to be at the top of the list in safety," he said. However, Ervin also recognized that continuous improvement is important. "Our safety results were actually better in 1998, a benchmark year for Air Products' safety performance. So we've re-doubled our efforts to identify and eliminate the causes of accidents that could hurt employees. Our ultimate goal is zero injuries."

Air Products also received Responsible Care® Employee Health and Safety Code awards from CMA for 119 company facilities that had zero fatalities and zero lost workdays involving days away from work in 1999. Almost every domestic plant operated by the company received one of these awards.

Ervin attributed the results to Air Products' safety programs and employees. "Our process safety efforts are focused on preventing accidents through design and maintenance of sound operations, and they're yielding positive results. But it's our employees-the people who focus on working safely 24 hours-per-day, seven days-per-week-who really made these results happen. We're proud of every one of them, and thank them for their commitment to safety."

Air Products has been recognized several times by CMA for its safety excellence, including the Responsible Care® Employee Health and Safety Code "Performance Improvement Award" in 1998, and the Lammot duPont Safety Award in 1996 and 1986. Similarly, Air Products received the Compressed Gas Association's highest safety honor-the Leonard Parker Pool Award-in 1998, 1985 and 1981. The company's commitment to safety and Responsible Care® inspired the creation of the Lehigh Valley Industry Safety Network (LVISN). This local mutual aid organization-aimed at sharing ideas for improving safety at companies handling hazardous chemicals-could eventually encompass over 300 organizations in the Lehigh Valley area.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is an international supplier of industrial gases and related equipment, and selected chemicals. The company has annual sales of $5 billion, operations in over 30 countries and 17,000 employees. Corporate headquarters are in eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, near Allentown.

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

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