LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year Air Products (NYSE: APD) has received a Pinnacle Award for chemical transportation safety from Union Pacific Railroad.  The award was presented to company representatives recently at an event held in Houston, Texas. The Pinnacle Award annually recognizes companies that have implemented successful prevention and corrective plans and have achieved a rate of zero non-accident releases for shipments of regulated hazardous material.

"Our people around the country who work with our rail transportation systems are very dedicated to safety and the environment and strive to win this award annually.  Air Products has preventative maintenance programs in place for our rail shipments and all cars are thoroughly inspected prior to leaving our plants. Our plant personnel don't just work in the facilities where we operate, but also live in communities near these rail systems so mistake-free shipments are very important to them. It's a great award for Air Products and the people working in our plants should be very proud," said Mike Klucsarits, logistics sourcing manager for Energy and Materials at Air Products.

Air Products previously won this award six times between 1996 and 2006. The Union Pacific award program, which began in 1996, is open to all Union Pacific chemical and petrochemical customers. Criteria include safe loading techniques, securement of shipments and zero non-accident releases.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services.  Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives.  The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment.  In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe.  For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

SOURCE Air Products