Union Pacific Honors Oronite with prestigious Safety Pinnacle Award

Few honors carry more esteem than those bestowed by business partners. It is one thing to work safely, but to gain a business partner's recognition for safe operations proves a company's commitment to operational excellence.

On April 23, Chevron Oronite's Oak Point plant in Belle Chasse, Louisiana was honored in Houston by the nation's largest railroad, Union Pacific (UP), with UP's Chemical Transportation Safety Pinnacle Award.

Chosen for its superior performance among hundreds of industrial manufacturers, Chevron Oronite earned UP's Pinnacle honor for its efforts to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars known as an NAR - non-accident release.

"This award proves that Union Pacific trusts the Oak Point plant to handle loading and unloading rail cars safely, accurately and responsibly," said Lonnie Melancon, the Oak Point Blending and Shipping Planning Supervisor who oversees the rail operations to Oronite customers.

"Everyone at Oak Point takes responsibility to ensure shipments are made safe and secure," Lonnie added. "The cars are secured properly. There are inspections at every step of the process, and everyone who touches a rail car assumes responsibility and signs off on that process."

In 2007, Oak Point handled about 4,000 rail cars. Union Pacific accounts for a large portion of Oak Point's shipping schedule. The rail cars carry chemicals used in fuel and lubricant additives as well as the finished additive products themselves.

Among those honored at the dinner will be Mary Crow, who works in Oronite's Procurement group and is responsible for railcar maintenance and leasing; Mark Mediamolle, who works at Oak Point with Lonnie in Blending and Shipping; and Olivia Mongogna, Oak Point's rail expediter who keeps track of all rail cars with Oronite products.

"Earning this prestigious award from Union Pacific doesn't happen without a lot of attention to details," pointed out Bill Schumacher, Oronite Vice President of Manufacturing. "We maintain our fleet of rail cars in good repair, and we inspect our cars before loading and then follow proper loading procedures. We seal and ship these cars every day, and this award recognizes how important these tasks are. They pay off when executed with excellence."

At Oronite, we put safety and quality products into every shipment.

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