ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Thanks to the safety focus of Delta Air Lines' (NYSE:DAL) employees worldwide, the airline has been named one of America's safest companies for 2005 by Occupational Hazards magazine. The publications annual list of "who's who in safety" recognizes a handful of U.S.-based companies that set their own standards for safety by exceeding federal regulations and industry averages for workplace health and safety standards. Delta is the first airline to be named to the list and joins 61 leaders from other industry sectors that have received the award since 2002.
"At Delta, maintaining a safe work environment for our employees and a safe operation for our customers has always been our most important core value," said Joe Kolshak, executive vice president and chief of operations.
"Over the years, Delta leaders and front-line employees have remained dedicated to building a culture of safety that has provided numerous successes, including the lowest workplace injury rates among U.S. airlines," Kolshak said. "Being recognized as one of America's safest companies is a testament to the commitment of Delta people at all levels who provide a safe, reliable operation for our customers and employees every day."
Said Occupational Hazards Managing Editor Sandy Smith, "At Delta Air Lines, it is apparent that safety is an integral part of doing business. Our judges were particularly impressed with the fact that safety is included at the start of an employee's career -- from listing safety as a responsibility in job descriptions to Delta's open door policy for expressing safety concerns."
Delta is a recognized leader in safety. Delta has the lowest OSHA recordable injury and illness rates of any Air Transport Association member.
Additionally, Delta was the first commercial airline to be accepted into the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and has four VPP Star sites -- the highest level of recognition. Acceptance into the VPP program signifies OSHA's official recognition of Delta's efforts to promote exemplary workplace health and safety programs that go beyond regulatory requirements. Delta and its regional airline affiliate Atlantic Southeast Airlines remain the only airlines to hold Star status in the VPP program.
"We also were impressed with Delta's commitment to OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program, indicating management support for safety and employee participation in safety, and the various ways the company offers for reporting safety issues to local and senior management," Smith said.
Delta's other safety awards include:
-- The 2005 National Safety Council Green Cross for Excellence
award -- given to National Safety Council members with lost work
day rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics national average.
-- The 2005 Self Help for Hard of Hearing People National Access
award -- given to companies that improve access for people with
hearing loss. Delta is being recognized specifically for its Gate
Information Display System in 20 airports that provide visual
information to customers in real time.
-- The 2004 Georgia Department of Labor's Safety Excellence
award -- presented to Georgia locations that have operated
250 days in the previous calendar year without a lost work day
due to occupational injury or illness.
Occupational Hazards, in its 67th year of publication, is the leading magazine of safety, health and loss prevention. The companies selected to the publication's 2005 list of safest companies in America share common safety values, including lost-time injury rates below industry standard, environmental health and safety programs that have earned recognition from state and federal safety associations, and safety programs built on core safety values that include safety committees, training, continuous improvement, risk assessment and accident prevention.
Delta Air Lines is the world's second-largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offering daily flights to 484 destinations in 87 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem frequent flier miles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
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