Olivia corn facility's safety efforts to be recognized

OLIVIA -- Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry will recognize the Monsanto corn research facility in Olivia as a "Minnesota Star'' worksite during a ceremony on Wednesday.

According to a news release from the department, MNSTAR recognizes worksites where managers and employees work together to develop safety and health management systems that go beyond basic requirements and result in immediate and long-term prevention of job-related injuries and illnesses.

To achieve MNSTAR status, the management and employees at Monsanto's corn research facility worked with Minnesota's Occupational, Safety and Health Administration's staff to identify and eliminate current or future safety hazards at its worksite.

The Olivia research facility is engaged in the breeding and selection of inbreds for the development of corn hybrids.

MNSTAR began in Minnesota in January 1999, and is modeled after the federal OSHA program, which began in 1982. Monsanto's corn research facility is one of 31 MNSTAR worksites in Minnesota.

For more information, visit www.dli.mn.gov/WSC/Mnstar.asp.