National Safety Council recognizes Paul O'Neill with the President's Award

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Oct 01, 2013, 01:33 ET

Recognized for his contributions to the NSC mission

CHICAGO, Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council has honored former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Alcoa CEO Paul O'Neill with the Council's President's Award at its annual Congress & Expo – the world's largest annual gathering of safety and health professionals.

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The mission of the National Safety Council is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. (PRNewsFoto/National Safety Council) (PRNewsFoto/National Safety Council)

This award recognizes the contribution of an individual or group to the Council's mission of saving lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads. O'Neill is being honored for his commitment to safety leadership.

"As CEO of Alcoa from 1987 to 1999, O'Neill stood steadfast in his unwavering belief that safety is the number one priority above profits and production," said Janet Froetscher, National Safety Council president and CEO. "By successfully demonstrating the critical role of leadership in building a strong safety culture, O'Neill has transformed the way business leaders view safety for generations to come."

During his time at Alcoa, O'Neill led significant improvement in the company's safety record. During his 13 year reign, the company's lost-workday rate was cut from 1.86 to 0.23 while market value increased from $3 billion in 1986 to $27.5 billion in 2000 and net income increased from $200 million to $1.48 billion. O'Neill also co-founded the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, which has led to quality and safety improvements in Pittsburgh-area hospitals.

The President's Award was established in 2009 and is awarded by the presiding CEO of the National Safety Council. To date, the only other recipient has been UPS, which in 2009 was recognized for its commitment to safety in the communities it serves.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities. Safety+Health magazine, the Council's flagship publication, is a leading source of occupational safety and health information.

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SOURCE National Safety Council