Press release
North America
April 22, 2010

Evonik Degussa Canada’s Gibbons Site Reports 7 Years Without Accident

Company Stresses Safety Each Day; Praises Employees For Their Commitment

Evonik Degussa Canada, Inc.’s Gibbons, Alberta hydrogen peroxide facility has achieved another safety milestone – employees have worked seven years without a lost time accident.

The last time the site had a lost time accident - a work related personal injury resulting in at least one day off from the job - was in 2003.

Thomas Rieche, Head of Evonik's Active Oxygens Business Line, said the Gibbons plant has always had a strong safety culture, built on teamwork and the personal commitment of each individual. “It is this commitment that has made this accomplishment possible,” said Rieche. “Reaching seven years without a lost time accident is a significant safety landmark and emphasizes the priority that each of our employees place on safety. This achievement could not have been possible without a focused effort at all levels of the work force to work safely.”

Evonik daily strives for a zero-accident safety culture, added Jack Chenault, Active Oxygens Vice President and General Manager – North America. "This safety milestone is a phenomenal achievement by Evonik’s Gibbons employees,” said Chenault. “They are to be commended for their tremendous efforts. But we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to work safely, pay attention to what we’re doing, use common sense and take time to do things the correct - and safe - way,”

Richard Boettcher, Evonik Site Manager, noted Evonik’s Gibbons facility is consistently ranked among the top facilities in the country in terms of safety and production.

“Safety is everyone's responsibility from the individual leaders to each employee to our corporate leaders," Boettcher continued. “This achievement is a tribute to our Gibbons employees’ continual vigilance in recognizing and correcting unsafe conditions and actions, as well as their dedication to ongoing safety and process training. Each employee has performed with the highest level of professionalism."

Boettcher noted that the site, which is about 45 minutes from Edmonton, has received numerous safety awards. CN, one of the world’s largest railroads, awarded nine consecutive Safe Handling Awards to Evonik Degussa Canada, in recognition of shipments from the Gibbons facility.

Hydrogen peroxide is a clear, colorless liquid used in the pulp and paper, mining, environmental, textile, personal care, electronics and other industries.

With an annual capacity approaching 600,000 metric tons, Evonik's Industrial Chemicals Business Unit is the world's second-largest producer of the eco-friendly bleaching and oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide. Evonik produces hydrogen peroxide in Germany, Belgium, Austria, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

For additional information about Evonik Industries in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america.

About Evonik

Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany. In our core business of specialty chemicals, we are a global leader. In addition, Evonik is an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our company’s performance is shaped by creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2009 about 39,000 employees generated sales of about €13.1 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of about €2.0 billion.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.