The 2009 Governor's Workplace Safety Awards are a result of a partnership among government, business and safety leaders: 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 focus is on best practices for eliminating job-related accidents and illnesses, and saluting those organizations for which safety is the number one workplace priority.

This year, awards were handed out in four categories: education and outreach, innovation, partnerships and overall excellence. The 2009 winning companies are:

• Turner Construction Company of Indiana LLC in Indianapolis - education and outreach by a construction company
• Bayer Healthcare LLC, Product Supply/Diabetes Care facility in Mishawaka - education and outreach by a large company
• Futurex Industries Inc. in Bloomingdale - education and outreach by a medium company
• Monsanto Company, Windfall Soybean Production division in Remington - education and outreach by a small company
• ERMCO Inc. in Indianapolis - innovation by a specialty contractor
• Indianapolis Power & Light Company - innovation by a large company
• Emerson Industrial Automation, Emerson Power Transmission division in Monticello - innovation by a medium company
• DSM NeoResins+ in Frankfort - innovation by a small company
• Kimball Electronics and Advanced Rehabilitation, Inc. in Jasper - partnerships
• Cerrowire Inc. in Crothersville - small company safety award
• Strick Corporation in Monroe - medium company safety award
• Solid Platforms Inc. in Portage - specialty contractor safety award

"These award-winning companies not only worked persistently to protect their employees, but they also engaged their workers in those safety efforts. The Indiana Department of Labor is proud to honor these premier companies, which help protect our valuable Hoosier workforce," Torres says.

All 2009 recipients demonstrated a strong commitment to workplace safety and health through proactive innovation, education and work practices.

Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar notes, "Of course, the most rewarding benefit of workplace safety is protecting the health of your workers. Beyond that, these companies understand a safe workplace means more productive employees, which can improve the company's products, services and profit margins.

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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy organization for over 85 years. The more than 4,900 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.