(INDIANAPOLIS) --  Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Governor's Workplace Safety Awards, which recognizes companies that have made safety and health a top priority by establishing best practices for eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses. Awards are given for general industry and construction in four categories: innovations, education and outreach (internal and external) and partnerships.

The awards are the result of a partnership among the Indiana Department of Labor, on behalf of Gov. Mitch Daniels, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

The awards are open to all organizations, regardless of size or number of workers. All Indiana businesses, unions, municipalities, schools, service organizations, nonprofit organizations or individuals are eligible to apply. To qualify, applicants or nominees must be deemed to be free of compliance disputes concerning all local, state and federal statutes and regulations.

To fill out an application or for more information, visit www.insafetyconf.com. All nominations and applications for the 2012 Governor's Workplace Safety Awards must be received by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce by 5 p.m. on January 18, 2012. Completed nomination packets may be mailed or hand delivered to:

Indiana Chamber of Commerce
2012 Governor's Workplace Safety Awards
Attn: Jesse Brothers
115 West Washington Street, Suite 850S
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

The 2012 Governor's Workplace Safety Awards will be presented during a luncheon at the annual Indiana Safety and Health Conference & Expo on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at the Indianapolis Marriott East. The luncheon is part of the three-day conference and expo, presented by the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Indiana Chamber, in partnership with INSafe and the Indiana Association of Occupational Health Nurses. Comcast Business Class Metro Ethernet is the conference title sponsor.

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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy
organization for 90 years.  The nearly 5,000 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.