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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 01/14/2003 - OSHA, KOCH INDUSTRIES FORM PARTNERSHIP |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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TRADE NEWS RELEASE Tuesday, January 14, 2003 Contact: Layne Lathram Phone: (202) 693-1999 OSHA, KOCH INDUSTRIES FORM PARTNERSHIP Collaboration on Safety and Health Management Systems, Reduction of Ergonomics Injuries and Illnesses WASHINGTON -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Koch Industries, Inc., today signed a partnership agreement to strengthen safety and health protections for workers at eight of the company's affiliates around the country. OSHA and Koch Industries will work together to reduce injuries and illnesses at the pilot worksites participating in the program, including reducing injuries and illnesses related to ergonomics at the Koch participating subsidiaries. "This partnership with Koch Industries allows OSHA to reach out to a diverse group of worksites within the company and address safety and health issues in a company with a worldwide presence," said OSHA Administrator John L. Henshaw. "The lessons learned from the participation of the pilot worksites in this partnership will be useful across many industries." In addition to Koch Materials Company, other participating Koch affiliates with pilot program sites are Koch Business Holdings, LLC; Koch Hydrocarbon Southwest, LLC; Koch Hydrocarbon, LP; Koch Mineral Services, LLC; Koch Carbon, LLC; The C. Reiss Coal Company and Koch Nitrogen Company. There are 18 worksites involved in the program, located in 14 states and employing approximately 450 workers. "This agreement represents a true public/private sector partnership," said Chris Wilkins, Koch Industries' director of corporate compliance. "This agreement enhances and builds upon the commitments these companies and OSHA both have made, and will allow us to work together to benefit our communities, our co-workers and our nation's economy. "Ever-improving environmental, health and safety performance is not an option. It is an expectation we have established for every employee in every Koch company at all times. We hope these agreements mark another step forward in our culture of ever-higher expectations and accomplishments." In this partnership, OSHA and Koch will work together to expand and implement Koch's Safety and Health Management system at the pilot worksites, including sharing knowledge and best practices from the partnership to help reduce injuries and illnesses at other Koch sites. OSHA and Koch will also strive to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses related to ergonomics in Koch participating pilot companies by using the Koch EHS Management system as a base for developing recommendations for management practices addressing ergonomic hazards. Koch's system, which emphasizes management commitment and employee involvement, parallels the principles of OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs. Koch will expand its participation in VPP as well as the Special Government Employees program as a result of this partnership. The partnership will be managed by a committee comprised of representatives from Koch management, labor and OSHA. They will determine procedures, meet regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of the partnership, and track, analyze information on partnership activities and results. Koch Industries, Inc., based in Wichita, Kansas, owns a diverse group of companies that are engaged in trading, investment and operations around the world. More information is available at www.kochind.com. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ### 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 alternative format 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. |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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