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Firestone Industrial Products’ Dyersburg Facility Celebrates Safety Designation Plant is seventh Bridgestone Americas facility to receive elite honor

DYERSBURG, Tenn. (March 26, 2008) – Today, Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC (FSIP) announced that its Dyersburg, Tenn., plant received Volunteer Protection Program (VPP) status from the Tennessee Occupational Safety & Health Administration (TOSHA).

“Congratulations to our Dyersburg teammates on their success building a winning safety and health program,” said Mike Cerio, President of FSIP, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products (BFDP). “By achieving this status, they are joining an elite group and setting an example for the rest of our facilities.”

TOSHA’s VPP status is awarded to companies that have comprehensive safety and health programs with injury rates below the industry’s national average. To qualify, Dyersburg teammates designed and implemented outstanding safety and health processes that exceed TOSHA’s strict safety standards.

“The award is recognition that the employees at this Firestone plant have structured a unique safety and health management system,” said Bob Henningsen, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “It’s a tribute to the company that its employees have successfully achieved these safety standards.”

Dyersburg is the first FSIP facility to achieve VPP status, joining a select club that includes three Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) facilities in Warren County, Tenn., Aiken County, S.C., and Bloomington, Ill., the only three tire plants in the United States to achieve this prestigious accolade. Other BFDP companies that are also VPP sites include: Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (FSBP) facilities in Aurora, Colo., and Kingstree, S.C., and the Firestone Polymers, LLC facility in Lake Charles, La.

The Dyersburg facility, which employs 130 teammates, produces metal components and cured rubber products for air springs.

About Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC:
Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC (FSIP) specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology with a history of more than 65 years of research and development of technologically advanced air springs. Its famous Airide™ brand has set the standard for air spring manufacturing and technology since 1939. FSIP is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products.

About Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products, LLC:
Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products (BFDP) is based in Indianapolis, Ind., and is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH). BFDP is responsible for BSAH’s non-tire businesses, including building and industrial products, synthetic polymers, natural and synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles.

About Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) is the U.S. subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAH and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the world and produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAH family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.