EAGAN, MN, 16-MAY-05 -- The Minnesota Safety Council awarded Lockheed Martin’s Eagan facility the Governor’s Safety Award for excellence in workplace safety and health during 2004. Lockheed Martin was one of 214 employers recognized by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on May 13.

“Workplace injuries and deaths are a personal and company tragedy, and a financial burden that no business needs,” said Carol Bufton, president of the Minnesota Safety Council. “Smart employers like Lockheed Martin understand that a commitment to safety benefits both their employees and their bottom line.”

While Lockheed Martin historically is a top performer in safety, in 2004, Lockheed Martin began an aggressive safety campaign, Target Zero, with an ultimate vision of eliminating all workplace injuries.

“Safety is a personal and a business imperative,” said Richard Ambrose, president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors’ Tactical Systems line of business. “A safe work environment, whether production areas, labs or offices, promotes greater productivity for our customers and sets us apart as an employer of choice.”

Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards have spotlighted Minnesota employers with above average safety records. Participants submit injury information which is compared with state and national data, as well as the entrant’s past performance. As a recipient of the Award of Honor, Lockheed Martin was recognized for its exceptional accomplishment in the reduction of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

The Minnesota Safety Council, founded in 1928, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minnesota by preventing unintentional deaths and injuries. The Governor’s Safety Awards were presented as part of the 70th Minnesota Safety & Health Conference, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council. The conference is the oldest and largest gathering of workplace safety and health professionals in the region.