Jotul Recognized for Commitment to Workplace Safety

March 20, 2008

Gorham- The SafetyWorks! program of the Maine Department of Labor today recognized Jotul for its efforts in providing a safe and healthy work environment. At a ceremony hosted at the company?s Gorham facility, Department of Labor officials presented the company with a Safety and Health Award Recognition Program (SHARP)certificate of achievement.

?This award represents Jotul?s high standards and employee involvement in creating a safe workplace,? said Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor.

The Safety and Health Award Recognition Program (SHARP) program offers incentives to private sector employers that take a proactive approach to workplace safety. The SHARP certificate is granted to employers who have demonstrated exemplary achievements in workplace safety and health by receiving a comprehensive safety and health consultation visit, correcting all workplace safety and health hazards, adopting and implementing effective safety and health management systems, and agreeing to request further consultative visits if major changes in working conditions or processes occur that may introduce new hazards. Employers meeting these specific program requirements may be exempt from general scheduled OSHA inspections for one year.

"Jotul's safety record is remarkable for one reason, our team's commitment to the process,? said Jotul NA company president, Bret Watson. ?From Norway to Maine, the global Jotul group is honored to be the recipient of the SHARP Award."

Under the guidance Jotul Safety and Facility Manager, Andre Souliere, the company developed a set of internal communications tools highlighting wellness and workplace safety information. During the last several years, Jotul has continually evolved its programs through management participation, employee steering and the commitment and diligent efforts of its safety and HR managers. Employee education and training are a vital part of Jotul?s safety program and culture, which stresses ?quality of life.?

J?tul North America was founded in Maine in 1980 and employs over seventy people today. The parent company, J?tul AS, was founded in Norway in 1853. In 2005, J?tul opened its new North American headquarters, a 117,500-square-foot facility located in the Gorham Industrial Park, in Gorham, Maine. The company manufactures a full spectrum of high-end stoves and fireplaces, from traditional Norwegian cast iron designs to cutting edge contemporary units, all constructed with a keen eye on quality craftsmanship and maximum efficiency through J?tul's clean burn technology.

SafetyWorks! is an outreach program of the Maine Department of Labor designed to reduce job-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. The program provided safety and health training to over 10,000 Maine workers last year and consultation services to hundreds of employers. SafetyWorks! services are voluntary and offered free of charge.

For more information about the SHARP program or any of the other free safety and health services offered by the Maine Department of Labor SafetyWorks! program, call (207) 623-7900 (TTY: 1-800-794-1110) or visit www.safetyworksmaine.com.

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