Aurora, CO. (October 9, 2007) – Firestone Building Products Company, LLC’s (FSBP) plant in Aurora, CO., has been awarded Federal OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) STAR status for outstanding performance in the area of worker health and safety. The Firestone plant, located at 21250 East 36th Drive, hosted a celebration today for its employees, management and representatives from OSHA.

OSHA Region 8 VPP Manager Brad Baptiste spoke at the event and presented the award to Aurora plant manager Howard Hall during the program.

“This recognition is a testament to our teammates’ commitment to both safety and excellence,” said Mike Gorey, FSBP President and Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products. “The Aurora plant and its teammates have demonstrated outstanding work and spirit in order to achieve this VPP Star status, and their efforts are truly commendable. They are very deserving of this honor.”

The OSHA Voluntary Protection Program STAR award is given to companies that have comprehensive safety and health programs with injury rates below the industry’s national average. As a STAR (Safety Through Accountability and Recognition) participant, the Aurora plant teammates have designed and implemented outstanding safety and health processes that exceed the strict safety standards of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

Greg Baxter, OSHA Regional Administrator, said “Designation as an OSHA VPP Star site can only be achieved at sites where employees and managers work together with a particular focus on workplace safety and health excellence.”

The selection of the Aurora plant for the VPP Star award was based on a detailed application and a rigorous on-site review by a team of safety and health specialists from OSHA. Some noteworthy aspects of Firestone’s program include a highly evolved air and noise monitoring program as well as a significant number of automated processes that reduce or eliminate employee exposures to repetitive motion and heavy lifting.

“To obtain VPP STAR recognition is a tremendous achievement for our teammates,” said Aurora Plant Manager Howard Hall. “It’s satisfying to know all the hard work and long hours our team has put into making this happen has paid off. To be one of the safest manufacturing facilities in the nation is something in which we all can take great pride.”

“Aurora is just one example of our company’s focus on health and safety,” said Bridgestone Americas Safety and Health Director Bob Walker, who attended the celebration. “Our Warren County, TN and Aiken County, SC facilities are the only two tire plants in the United States to have ever achieved OSHA VPP STAR status. The company’s Kingstree, S.C., Building Products plant has also been certified as a STAR site and last year our Lake Charles Polymers Plant in Lake Charles, LA was inducted into this prestigious group.”