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Release Number: 10-1215-PHI
Sept. 2, 2010
Contact: Leni Fortson
Phone: 215-861-5102
E-mail: uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov

US Department of Labor’s OSHA cites Blandon, Pa., brass foundry
$550,400 for exposing workers to lead and other workplace hazards

“The employer deliberately refused to protect workers from overexposure to lead and other workplace hazards. Even though company management knew of the OSHA requirements and the workers’ lead exposures, it failed to provide medical surveillance to monitor worker health and to train its workers about lead-exposure risks,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. “OSHA will use the full extent of the law to ensure employers are held accountable for failing to protect workers.”

Following its investigation, OSHA cited Excelsior Brass Works for willful and serious violations of the lead standard, which requires employers to protect their workers from lead exposure. Lead can cause brain damage, paralysis, kidney disease and even death.

The willful citations allege the company did not take air samples as required for workers who were over-exposed to airborne lead, and it did not provide the required annual training about lead-exposure hazards. Willful citations also allege failures to provide the required medical surveillance for the lead-exposed workers and to make available the results of medical tests performed shortly after OSHA came to the facility and opened the inspection. An additional willful violation alleges that the company stopped providing hearing tests to employees over-exposed to noise. Willful violations are those committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for legal requirements, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Serious citations of the lead standards allege failures to install additional engineering controls; to have an updated, written lead compliance program; to store lead-contaminated clothing in a closed container; to maintain surfaces like microwaves and lunchroom floors free of lead dust; to vacuum clothes to remove lead dust before entering the lunchroom; to provide medical exams to employees with high blood-lead levels; and to maintain proper air sampling records.

Additional serious citations allege that the employer failed to install engineering controls for noise; establish a written respirator program; to provide respirator fit-tests; and establish a program with procedures to shut down and lock out hazardous energy sources before servicing and maintaining machines. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.

Two other-than-serious violations, accounting for $1,200 of the total penalties, allege recordkeeping deficiencies.

Excelsior Brass Works, with six previous OSHA inspections at its Blandon facility, manufactures brass and bronze castings.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA’s office in Harrisburg, Pa; telephone: 717-782-3902. To report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-5742.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation Announces Successful Completion of Cash Tender Offers for Certain Series of Senior Notes

Oklahoma City, September 1, 2010 - Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) announced on August 31 the expiration of its previously announced cash tender offers for any and all of its outstanding 7.00% Senior Notes due 2014, 6.625% Senior Notes due 2016 and 6.25% Senior Notes due 2018 (collectively, the “Notes”). The tender offers expired at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on August 30, 2010 (the “Expiration Date”). The full terms and conditions of the tender offers are set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated August 3, 2010 (the “Statement”).  

As previously announced, on August 17, 2010 Chesapeake purchased $245,051,000 principal amount of its outstanding 7.00% Senior Notes due 2014, $566,242,000 principal amount of its outstanding 6.625% Senior Notes due 2016 and $582,263,000 principal amount of its outstanding 6.25% Senior Notes due 2018 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on August 16, 2010, which was the consent time (the “Consent Time”) for the tender offers and related consent solicitations with respect to the Notes. Chesapeake has received and accepted for purchase an additional $60,000 principal amount of its outstanding 7.00% Senior Notes due 2014, $388,000 principal amount of its outstanding 6.625% Senior Notes due 2016 and $207,000 principal amount of its outstanding 6.25% Senior Notes due 2018 validly tendered subsequent to the Consent Time and prior to the Expiration Date. Chesapeake has agreed to purchase all such Notes for the applicable tender offer consideration set forth in the Statement.  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC served as the Dealer Manager for the tender offers and Solicitation Agent for the consent solicitations. Questions regarding the tender offers and consent solicitations may be directed to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC toll free at (800) 820-1653 and collect at (212) 325-5912. Holders may obtain copies of the Statement and the related Letter of Transmittal and Consent from the Information Agent and Depositary for the tender offers, Global Bondholder Services Corporation, collect at (212) 430-3774 and toll free at (866) 952-2200.  

This announcement is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell securities with respect to the Notes, nor is it a notice of redemption with respect to the redemptions described above. The tender offers were made solely pursuant to the Statement and the related Letter of Transmittal and Consent.  

Chesapeake Energy Corporation is the second-largest producer of natural gas and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company’s operations are focused on discovering and developing unconventional natural gas and oil fields onshore in the U.S. Chesapeake owns leading positions in the Barnett, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus and Bossier natural gas shale plays and in the Eagle Ford, Granite Wash and various other unconventional oil plays. The company has also vertically integrated its operations and owns substantial midstream, compression, drilling and oilfield service assets.

For More Information Contact
Jeffrey L. Mobley
CFA
405-767-4763
jeff.mobley@chk.com
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Jim Gipson
405-935-1310
jim.gipson@chk.com
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