THE S.M. STOLLER CORP. RECEIVES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S SUPERIOR STAR AWARD

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) is pleased to announce that the Legacy Management Support Team of the company's subsidiary, The S.M. Stoller Corp., was awarded the Superior Star Award by the Department of Energy. The award was presented Aug. 24 during an annual conference held in National Harbor, Md.

The award recognizes companies that have attained the DOE's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) star status and have demonstrated a consistently superior level of performance in meeting established safety and health goals, conducted outreach, and achieved an injury and illness rate significantly below the average for similar operations.

"Safety is extremely important in all aspects of our business," said Pete Diakun, Newport News Shipbuilding's vice president, energy programs. "Our employees, whether they are working in Newport News, Mississippi or Colorado, are our greatest assets, and we are proud to celebrate this very important safety performance achievement."

The Stoller Legacy Management Support Team, which on behalf of the DOE has control and custody for legacy land, structures and facilities that were previously involved in some aspect of the country's nuclear weapons program, safely and cost-effectively manages more than 90 sites across the country to ensure post-closure responsibilities are met, and to protect human health and the environment. The VPP Superior Star Award was presented to the team for maintaining its employee injury rates at 50 percent of the industry average.

The DOE initiated its VPP program in January 1994 to promote improved safety and health performance. The program also includes coverage of radiation protection/nuclear safety and emergency management because of the type and complexity of DOE facilities. Similar to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's VPP program, the DOE's program provides benefits to participating sites, including improved labor/management relations, reduced workplace injuries and illnesses, increased employee involvement, improved morale, reduced absenteeism and public recognition.

Stoller is a wholly owned subsidiary of HII, acquired on Jan. 2 and operating under HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division. Based in Colorado, the company provides technical, environmental, ecological, waste management, remediation and consultation services to private sector companies and the U.S. government.