Region 6 News Release: 11-328-DAL
March 24, 2011
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
E-mail: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA recognizes NuStar Energy facility
in Amarillo, Texas, for excellence in safety and health

AMARILLO, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized the employees and management of NuStar Energy's Central West North District facility in Amarillo for achieving three years of excellence in the company's employee safety and health program. The NuStar facility has been designated as a "star" site in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

"NuStar's outstanding efforts at this site include maintaining an injury and illness rate that is more than 70 percent below the national average for its industry," said William A. Burke, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Dallas. "NuStar is an example of what can be accomplished when employees and managers work together to proactively eliminate hazards."

San Antonio-based NuStar stores gasoline and diesel fuel, and loads it onto tanker trucks for transport to clients. Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in El Paso, and Sheila Schulmeyer, an OSHA compliance assistance specialist from the Lubbock District Office, attended the event. Rector presented the company with a flag and plaque.

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize private and federal worksites 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 worksites where employees are represented by a bargaining unit. Participating worksites 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, the VPP manager for OSHA's Region VI 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, audiotape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.