Monsanto Receives Recognition for Commitment to Safety

ST. LOUIS, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monsanto has received the Dale Randall Traveling Award from Chapter VII of the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association (VPPPA). Monsanto is the second recipient of the award, which recognizes companies for their dedication to raising safety awareness in the workplace.

The chapter's board of directors selects the award recipient based on its performance in occupational safety, health and environmental management. To earn the award, a company must have at least one Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) site and be dedicated to the success of both the VPP and VPPPA.

Monsanto will receive the award at VPPPA's Chapter VII regional conference in Des Moines, Iowa on May 21. Guests will include David Neil, labor commissioner of Iowa; Charles Adkins, Chapter VII Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) director; and Davis Layne, executive director of the national VPPPA.

"Receiving this award is a great honor," said Mark Leidy, executive vice president and Monsanto's global manufacturing lead. "We've worked hard to ensure our worldwide facilities are as safe as possible, so it's nice to be recognized for our people's efforts and accomplishments in safety awareness."

Monsanto has 14 VPP Star sites in Chapter VII's area. Star certification is OSHA's top safety classification. To earn the designation, a site must undergo a rigorous OSHA audit, demonstrating its safety programs and practices reach high levels of excellence. It must also have an accident rate below the rest of the industry.

"Safety is personal and 24/7 at Monsanto," said Emer O'Broin, Monsanto's vice president of environmental, safety and health. "Our employees are dedicated to the safety of themselves, their colleagues, their families and communities, and it's a distinction to see their work recognized by the VPPPA."

The VPPPA is a member-based association committed to cooperative occupational safety, health and environmental management systems. Chapter VII of the organization, which includes Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, instituted this award in 2006 to honor the memory of Dale Randall, a member who dedicated his life to encouraging others about safety awareness. For more information on VPPPA, see: http://www.vpppa.org/.

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see: http://www.monsanto.com/.