Region 6 News Release: 11-1320-DAL
Sept. 8, 2011
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA recognizes ConocoPhillips
in Westlake, La., for excellence in workplace safety and health

WESTLAKE, La. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized employees and management of the ConocoPhillips Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex in Westlake for achieving three years of excellence in the company's employee safety and health program. The facility has been designated as a "star" site, the highest honor in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

"ConocoPhillips is to be commended for demonstrating excellence in effective safety and health management," said John Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "Outstanding efforts at this site include maintaining an injury and illness rate that is 63 percent below the national average for its industry over the past three years."

The ConocoPhillips Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex, which employs about 800 workers, is comprised of the Lake Charles Refinery and Excel Paralubes, which operates as a joint venture with Flint Hills Resources. The refinery produces a variety of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, propane and petroleum coke. Houston-headquartered ConocoPhillips is an international, integrated energy company.

Bruce Stark, the VPP coordinator for OSHA's Baton Rouge Area Office, presented a plaque and flag at a recognition ceremony.

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, work site 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, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html or contact William Klingbeil, OSHA's VPP manager in Dallas, at 971-850-4159.

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, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.