BUFFALO, N.Y., Sep 23, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today welcomed the Buffalo, New York manufacturing facility of Williams Advanced Materials Inc. (WAM) into its prestigious Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as a "Star" work site. Representatives from OSHA's Region 2 joined WAM employees, local dignitaries and guests at the facility for a ceremony and presentation of the Star award.
Williams Advanced Materials Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
WAM's Buffalo facility joins less than 1,300 other VPP work sites out of more than 7 million in the United States that OSHA monitors and is the first VPP site to be recognized in the city of Buffalo. VPP recognizes companies and specific work locations that go beyond traditional compliance to achieve exemplary levels of worker health and safety. The "Star" designation is the highest safety achievement offered by OSHA.
In comments at the ceremony, Williams Advanced Materials' President, Richard W. Sager, said, "This award is a reflection of a tremendous and ongoing commitment by the entire Williams team in Buffalo. It is not unusual for locations that apply for the Voluntary Protection Program to require several attempts before qualifying for the Star award. Williams earned the Star award on its first attempt which makes the award even more meaningful."
To be eligible for the honor, A VPP Star site must maintain employee injury and illness rates below the national average for the same industry. Williams' Buffalo facility's total Case Incidence Rate and Days Away from Work, Restricted Activity or Job Transfer rate were 79 and 83 percent, respectively, below the industry average. OSHA also evaluated Williams against a rigorous criteria that involved demonstration of an effective safety and health program including management leadership, employee involvement, work-site analysis, training, and hazard prevention and control. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before applying to join the program.
VPP work sites must submit annual self-evaluations and undergo periodic on-site reevaluations every three to five years to sustain the Star designation.
Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, Williams Advanced Materials manufactures precious, non-precious and specialty metal products at facilities in New York, California and Asia, and provides precision cleaning and reconditioning services for physical vapor deposition customers at facilities in the U.S. and Ireland. Major markets for WAM's products include magnetic and optical data storage, the wireless, semiconductor, photonic and hybrid segments of the microelectronics markets.
Brush Engineered Materials Inc. (NYSE:BW) is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, supplies worldwide markets with beryllium products, alloy products, electronic products, precious metal products, and engineered material systems.
SOURCE: Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
Williams Advanced Materials
Media - Roger Balcerak, 716-837-1000
www.williams-adv.com
or
Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
Investors - Michael C. Hasychak, 216-383-6823
www.beminc.com
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