Region 3 News Release:   III-01-08-30-087-DE
Fri., Aug. 31, 2001
Contact: Kate Dugan
Office: (215) 861-5101
After Hours: (610) 522-9484

OSHA RECOGNIZES NEWPORT, DE COMPANY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH RECORD

Newport, De. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will officially welcome Ciba Specialty Chemical Corp. into its Voluntary Protection Program as a MERIT site at a special flag ceremony on Fri., Aug. 31, 2001. Richard Soltan, OSHA regional administrator, will make the presentation at the company's Newport site, 205 South James Street, Newport, Del. A tour of the facility will start at 10 a.m. and the presentation of the flag will start at 11:30 a.m.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals develops and produces specialty chemicals worldwide. The Newport plant manufacturers high-performance organic pigments for the paint, plastic, fiber and ink industries. The site is noted for having a three-year recordable injury rate and lost workday incidence rates below the national average.

MERIT is just below STAR, the highest designation in OSHA's VPP program. The program is designed for worksites with comprehensive, successful safety and health programs, is open to any industry, and to companies with injury rates below the industry's national average.

U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this release will be made available in alternate formats upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755.