BASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises LLC named latest MNSHARP work site

PLYMOUTH, MN, January 28, 2008 – BASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises LLC (BASF PFE) today announced that it has been named the latest Minnesota Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (MNSHARP) work site. BASF PFE is one of approximately 30 companies in the state of Minnesota to achieve MNSHARP status.

MNSHARP was started in 1996 and recognizes companies whose managers and employees work together to develop safety and health programs that go beyond basic compliance with all of the OSHA standards, and result in immediate and long-term prevention of job-related injuries and illnesses.

To achieve this status, BASF PFE worked with the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry’s Workplace Safety Consultation unit to develop and implement an effectively written safety program to meet or exceed OSHA standards. Key elements of the program include:

    * Management leadership and employee involvement;
    * An allocation of resources to address safety issues;
    * Systems that identify and control workplace hazards, and
    * A plan for employee safety training and education.

“It’s an honor and a tribute to our system and our employees to be recognized by MNSHARP,” said Mike Arnold, operations manager of BASF PFE. “We will continue to look for ways to improve our safety and health standards in accordance with the MNSHARP status.”

BASF PFE will be recognized further at a Governor’s Safety Award luncheon hosted by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in May.

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BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs more than 15,500 in North America and had sales of approximately $14.3 billion in 2006. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.