Press release
North America
September 26, 2011

Evonik’s Greensboro Facility To Conduct Emergency Exercise September 15

Participation With Fire Department, EMT, Hospital To Sharpen Response Skills

Evonik Stockhausen, one of the city’s major employers, will test its emergency response plan on September 15 in a mock emergency exercise along with the participation of the Greensboro Fire Department, Guilford County EMS and Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

“The drill will test our response planning under emergency conditions,” said Dieter Bettinger, site manager at the Evonik facility on Doyle Street. “We hope we will never have such an emergency, though we want to be ready. The exercise will reinforce the roles each employee plays in an emergency and makes sure our coordination with the Fire Department, EMTs and Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital is seamless. Teamwork in such situations is critical.”

Captain Mark Schmitt of the Greensboro Fire Department said the September 15 drill will be a test of the Department’s readiness. “Getting individuals together from different venues and training together helps to prepare for a possible emergency,” he said. “There are times where we will all need to work together so this training is very important. It’s not really something you do all the time on the job but you need to know how.”

Added Lewis Cantu of Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital: “We want to make sure we can coordinate our efforts among the participating agencies. We want to be able to communicate information quickly and effectively between all parties.”

The mock emergency drill is scheduled to begin at10 a.m. on Thursday, September 15. “The scenario involves a hose break while an employee is unloading an organic acid from a railcar,” said Bettinger. “Although the Evonik employee is protected from acid burns by his safety gear, he falls and suffers arm and head injuries. Simultaneously, two contractors working at an adjacent work area are sprayed with acid.”

The Greensboro Fire Department and EMS are contacted using the 911 emergency system. Prior to their arrival, the injured personnel are examined and stabilized at the scene by Evonik’s Site First Responders, according to the scenario. The Emergency Medical Technicians arrive and take over treatment of the three individuals on-site.
The three are then transported by ambulance to Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, where they are treated by the Hospital’s Emergency Room personnel and eventually released.

Said Bettinger: "We don’t know when or where a disaster may occur but the more we practice, the more prepared we are for the unexpected both on-site and in the community. Not only do we work in this community, we live in the community. By engaging the Greensboro emergency services in our mock emergency, it tests not just our ability to deal with an incident but creates the team that can respond to safeguard our neighbors and community.”

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

About Evonik

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders
in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health and nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. In 2010 about 80 percent of the Group’s chemicals sales came from activities where it ranks among the market leaders. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2010 more than 34,000 employees generated sales of around €13.3 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of about €2.4 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.