Phelps Dodge Wants Safety To Be a Global Focus

Phelps Dodge Wants Safety To Be a Global Focus

April 16, 2004

PHOENIX, AZ–Phelps Dodge Corp. (NYSE: PD) and its 13,000 employees in 27 countries are focusing on community safety during the company’s Global Volunteer Month in April.

In Monterrey, Mexico, employees will help coordinate a drive for disaster supplies and safety training. In Hanover, Germany, they’ll be donating audio-visual equipment and safety brochures to the local school system. In Arizona they’ll be helping raise funds for domestic-violence shelters. Those are just a few of the dozens of projects in dozens of locations around the globe related to the company’s philosophy of Zero and Beyond – that the only acceptable goal when it comes to safety incidents is zero.

“Volunteerism has tremendous power to weave together co-workers and communities, support vital nonprofit organizations and transform both those serving and those served,” said J. Steven Whisler, chairman and CEO. “Phelps Dodge employees around the world take time to give of themselves in causes that enrich lives, and we commend and support their community service.”

The effort involved employees of Phelps Dodge Corp. and its business units, including Phelps Dodge Mining Co., Phelps Dodge Wire & Cable companies, Columbian Chemicals Co. and Climax Molybdenum.

Global Volunteer Month started in October of 2002 when the companywide employee volunteer program Phelps Helps was first launched. That first year 23 sites participated in projects that focused on family violence prevention. The companywide Employee Volunteer Council adopted the program as an annual event.

Employees are encouraged to participate in their site’s project. Projects are listed below by business unit and site. Additional information will be provided at your site in the next few days.

PHELPS DODGE MINING CO.:

Bagdad, Arizona

School/Outdoor Recreation Safety Outreach Project

Bagdad employees will partner with the community to teach recreational safety.

Bisbee, Arizona

Women’s Transition Center Project

At the Women’s Transition Center in Bisbee, a medium term shelter for needy women and their children, a recent inspection by the fire department noted several deficiencies. The Copper Queen Branch will bring this facility up to code. Work will include addressing some electrical and plumbing concerns, mounting fire extinguishers according to code, and repairing some damaged ceiling panels.

Chicago, Illinois

Safety Supply Drive

April 1-30

Chicago Rod will conduct a drive to collect safety and first-aid products, such as band-aids and medications for a local community organization.

El Paso, Texas

SafeLife Project

El Paso Rod and Refining employees will partner with local schools to deliver the National Safety Council’s SafeLife curriculum to fifth-grade students. SafeLife topics include personal safety, violence prevention, decision making, occupant restraint, water safety, emergency medical situations, pedestrian safety and outdoor recreational safety.

Henderson Mine near Empire, Colorado

Disabled Veteran’s Winter Sports Clinic Project

April 3, 4, 10 and 11

Henderson volunteers will help disabled veterans participating in the sports clinic travel safely through the Denver airport. Volunteers also will staff the hospitality room to assist with various needs, visit with veterans between flights and take photos while they wait. This year’s event will honor and support young soldiers just back from Iraq.

Miami, Arizona

Call for Help Project

April 1-30

Miami employees will conduct a used cell phone drive throughout April to collect phones that can be reprogrammed for emergency use and donated to local organizations that serve the elderly and victims of domestic violence.

Morenci, Process Technology Center and Safford, Arizona

Family Safety Community Outreach event

Employees from Morenci, Safford and the Process Technology Center will partner with local law enforcement to provide a variety of safety resources to the community, possibly including passing out safety information, distributing gun locks and conducting child fingerprinting in Graham and Greenlee counties in Arizona.

New Mexico

Tour the Gila event

April 28 – May 2

Tour the Gila is a bike racing event that attracts riders from around the world. New Mexico employees will partner with the Tour the Gila Committee to serve as safety marshals for traffic and crowds, staff water and refreshment booths, and ensure the roads/bike path is safe and clean during the race.


Norwich, Connecticut

Habitat for Humanity

Norwich employees will participate in the construction of a new Habitat for Humanity House.

Women’s Center Supply Drive

April 1-30

Norwich also will coordinate a drive to collect needed food and household items for women and children who are victims of abuse, and are served by the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut. Norwich will donate first-aid kits.

Phoenix, Arizona

Rebuilding Together

April 3

Phoenix employees will participate in Rebuilding Together, a program that helps low-income homeowners preserve and revitalize houses.

Walk to End Domestic Violence

April 24

Phelps Dodge employees will participate in this annual walk that raises funds for and awareness of the issue of family violence.

Sierrita Mine near Green Valley, Arizona

Together We Prepare Project

Employees at Sierrita will team with the Red Cross Southern Arizona Chapter to conduct safety preparedness training in local schools.

MAGNET WIRE:

Bentonville, Arkansas

Women’s Shelter Supply Drive

April 1-30

Bentonville employees will collect and donate urgently needed items, such as bath towels, washcloths, bed linens, plastic trash cans and flashlights for the Benton County Women’s Shelter.

El Paso, Texas

Women’s Shelter Supply Drive

April 1-30

El Paso employees will collect and donate urgently needed items to a local women’s shelter.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

United Way – Youth Day of Caring

April 23

Fort Wayne employees will support the United Way in leading youth safety and improvement teams during this annual day of caring.

City of Fort Wayne Great American Clean-up

May 15

Fort Wayne employees are invited to roll up their sleeves and help spruce up and protect their community.

Monterrey, Mexico

Cruz Roja Mexicana (Red Cross) Supply Drive

April 1-30

In partnership with Cruz Roja Mexicana, Monterrey employees will coordinate a drive to collect needed supplies for community disasters and safety training.

HIGH PERFORMANCE CONDUCTORS:

Elizabeth, New Jersey

YWCA Supply Drive

April 1-30

Elizabeth employees will participate in a supply drive to support the YWCA and its programs.

Inman, South Carolina

High School Seat Belt Safety Awareness Campaign

Buckle up is the theme of Inman’s Global Volunteer Month project. Inman employees will work with local Chapman High School and Boiling Springs High School to distribute buckle-up key chains and raise awareness about the importance of wearing seat belts.

Trenton, Georgia

Seat Belt Check Project

April 1 & 14

In partnership with the Dade County police and schools and Jackson and DeKalb County schools, Trenton employees will coordinate a seat-belt check awareness campaign for community youth.

Great American Clean-up

April 3

Trenton employees will contribute to a safer community by helping to keep it clean during the Great American Clean-up.

Construction Inspection

April 21

To ensure a safe construction site, Trenton employees/safety experts will assist in a construction inspection at Dade County High School.

PHELPS DODGE INTERNATIONAL CORP.:

Brazil

Student Safety Training

Employees will work with the local elementary school to teach safety behaviors, promote an awareness of potential safety hazards at school and home, and increase general safety awareness.

Chile

Santa Cecilia Home Supply Drive

April 1-30

Employees will participate in a drive to collect clothing, shoes and food to support the Santa Cecilia Home, a home for people recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.

Coral Gables, Florida

Save-A-Life Campaign

April 1-30

Working with the Herbert Hoover Foundation and the Coral Gables Police Department, employees will participate in the Save-A-Life campaign by collecting used personal cell phones that will be donated to organizations serving victims of abuse.

Costa Rica

Women’s Shelter Supply Drive

April 1-30

Employees will collect personal hygiene items and donate them to a local domestic violence shelter.

Ecuador

Youth Safety and Supply Project

April 1-30

Employees will donate toys and clothes to students at a local elementary school. Employees also will provide a safety training lesson for local school children.

Guatemala

School Improvement Project

April and May

Employees will assist a local elementary school improve their school library.

Honduras

Safety Tailgate Project

April 23

Employees will donate first-aid kits and host a safety tailgate for students at a local elementary school.

Children’s Burn Unit Project

Employees will share snacks and safety tips with children at the public hospital burn unit.

Panama

Youth Safety and Supply Project

April – August

Employees will partner with a local elementary school to provide safety education for students. Employees also will participate in a drive to collect school materials for students and teachers.

Venezuela

Community Safety Training

April 1-30

Venezuela employees will donate and help deliver basic first-aid supplies and equipment to the Valencia Industrial Zone Fire Department and Guacara Fire Department. The Venezuela plant also will donate the use of its facilities for training local emergency responders.


COLUMBIAN CHEMICALS:

Bristol, England – Sevalco Plant (CCUK)

Safety Outreach Project

CCUK will coordinate with local schools to arrange student visits to the plant. In addition to a tour of the facility, the students will participate in a session on safety.

Community Clean-up Project

CCUK employees will also work together on a “litter pick”, cleaning up trash along the local bicycle path on Severn Trail.

Cubatao, Brazil – Columbian Chemicals Brazil (CCB)

Community Safety Education Project

March 31

CCB employees will conduct “The Best Age”, a part of their “Inter Total” program in which elderly citizens from the community are invited to the plant where they attend a series of presentations on a variety of topics, including personal health and safety. Other activities planned for later in the year include AIDS prevention training for employees and families, the “Liberty” program which offers drug and alcohol prevention training, the “Well-Living” program for employees and spouses which addresses safety, health, family relationships, etc., and “Practicing for the Future” in which local teenagers are provided information and training regarding safety, health, hygiene, and community involvement.

Hamilton, Canada

Safety Outreach Project

Hamilton’s employees will distribute safety brochures and materials to local schools in addition to their ongoing volunteer activities.

Hannover, Germany – Columbian Carbon Deutschland (CCD)

Safety Outreach Project

CCD will provide used audio-visual equipment to the local school system and distribute the safety brochures being developed in Marietta.

Hickok, Kansas

School Safety Outreach Project

April 1-30

The Hickok Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Team will visit two local schools to discuss electrical safety, and distribute home safety packets throughout the community addressing yard and outdoor safety in partnership with the Hickok Safety Through Ergonomic Process (STEP) team.

Recycling and Safety Project

The Hickok management team will sponsor Earth Day recycling in Satanta, Kan., and discuss safety related issues with the Haskell County Girl Scouts.

Domestic Violence Shelter Project

Hickok employees will provide painting and cleaning assistance for the local DOVES chapter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence.


Marietta, Georgia

School Safety Outreach Project

April 12-16

Employees will deliver safety training focusing on home and personal safety to children at local Kings Elementary School. Marietta will also develop and distribute a brochure on home/personal safety to other local elementary schools, along with a set of safety “talking points” for teachers to develop a safety lesson plan. The brochure and supporting materials will also be sent to CCC locations worldwide for translation and distribution to schools in each of the company’s operating communities.

March of Dimes

April 24

Marietta employees are invited to put on their walking shoes and join in the March of Dimes Walk for Healthy Babies.

Marshall Plant at Proctor, West Virginia

Health and Safety Awareness Day and CPR/First Aid Training

Employees at CCC’s Marshall plant will sponsor “Health and Safety Awareness Day” at the Washington Lands Elementary School. In addition, Columbian employees will be offering CPR and First Aid training at the Graysville Community Center in Proctor, W.Va., for community members.

Volunteer Fire Department Partnership

The Marshall Plant will provide support to the Fish Creek Volunteer Fire Department (to which many CCC employees volunteer their services as firemen) and donate assorted materials for rebuilding the river docks for the Paden City Parks and Recreation Department to make them safe for use during the upcoming summer season. In addition, the facility will be loaning their rescue equipment to local Search and Rescue teams so that they can conduct rescue training.

North Bend, Indiana

Safety Outreach Project

Employees at CCC’s North Bend plant will visit two elementary schools and discuss safety at school, at home, and while playing. Fifteen (15) high school students will visit the facility for a plant safety tour as part of “Safety in the Workplace”. Employees will also present at a local conference sponsored by LSU on the topic of “Lawnmower Safety.” Finally, North Bend’s Manager of Health and Safety is scheduled to appear on “TecheTalk”, a local PBS station, to discuss Child Car Seat Safety.

Santander, Spain – Columbian Carbon Spain (CCS)

Safety Outreach and Training Project

CCS will distribute the safety materials developed in Marietta to local schools. In addition, CCS employees conducted a MoveSmart seminar at a local conference in late March. Similar training will be provided during similar sessions at future conferences in 2004.

Tiszaujvaros, Hungary – Columbian Tizai Carbon (CTC)

Safety Outreach Project

CTC will provide support to secondary schools for “healthy lifestyle” programs.


Yosu, South Korea – Columbian Carbon Korea (CCK)

Safety Outreach Project

CCK employees will distribution of the safety materials being developed by Marietta, and conduct safety training at one or more local elementary schools.

Phelps Dodge Corp. is the world’s second-largest producer of copper, a world leader in the production of molybdenum, the largest producer of molybdenum-based chemicals and continuous-cast copper rod, and among the leading producers of magnet wire and carbon black. The company and its two divisions, Phelps Dodge Mining Co. and Phelps Dodge Industries, employ more than 13,000 people in 27 countries.