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Region 7 News Release: 12-1490--KAN
Aug. 13, 2012
Contact: Scott Allen     Rhonda Burke
Phone:       312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov     burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA certifies Monsanto Gothenburg Water
Utilization Learning Center and Breeding Facility as 'star' site
Nebraska facility receives highest honor for workplace safety and health

GOTHENBURG, Neb. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized the management and employees of the Monsanto Gothenburg Water Utilization Learning Center and Breeding Facility for excellence in the company's safety and health program. The facility in Gothenburg has been designated a "star," the highest honor in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

The facility, which employs about 30 workers who conduct corn hybrid testing and development, earned VPP star recognition following a comprehensive on-site evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.

"From the top down, the Monsanto Gothenburg Water Utilization Learning Center and Breeding Facility has displayed outstanding effort in implementing a comprehensive safety and health management system," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "The facility is an exemplar of workplace safety."

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize private and federal work sites with effective safety and health management systems that have maintained injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages. Management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis and training. Union support is required for applicant work sites where employees are represented by a bargaining unit. Participating work sites are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status. For more information, contact OSHA's regional VPP manager in Kansas City, Mo., at 816-283-8745 or visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.