PORTSMOUTH – The Raytheon Co.’s Seapower Capability Center was honored as a “star” yesterday, by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for its outstanding record as a participant in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program.

The star rating – the VPP’s most prestigious recognition – is reserved for employers and employees who implement exemplary occupational safety and health practices and achieve injury and illness rates below their industry’s national average. OSHA’s verification process includes an on-site evaluation of each candidate; the evaluation team’s recommendation then is forwarded to the Labor Department for approval.

Of the state’s six VPP participants assigned the star rating by OSHA, Raytheon is the largest employer and the only defense contractor, the company noted.

The other Ocean State employers ranked as VPP stars are Modine Mfg., in the West Kingston section of South Kingstown; Tiverton Power; the U.S. Postal Service’s Pawtucket Post Office and West Warwick Post Office; and WJAR-TV Channel 10 in Cranston. Another six worksites in Bristol County, Mass., also bear the star designation: The Acushnet Co.’s Ball Plant II, Ball Plant III and Custom Operations, all in New Bedford; the company’s Packaging Center in Fairhaven; BG Dighton Power in Dighton; and the USPS’ main Post Office in Attleboro.

“Raytheon’s Seapower Capability Center operates an outstanding safety and health management system, and all employees are enthusiastically engaged in the VPP process,” said Robert Sands, VPP manager for OSHA’s District 1 regional office in Boston. “Our OSHA team was impressed with Raytheon’s level of cooperation and the professionalism shown by the environmental health and safety staff.”

The Seapower Capability Center – part of Raytheon’s Tewksbury, Mass.-based Integrated Defense Systems division (Raytheon IDS) – is responsible for the development and integration of submarine and surface-ship combat management, anti-submarine, mine warfare and integrated ship systems, as well as sensors and torpedoes for the U.S. and allied fleets.

It was lauded for strong communication by company leaders; extensive involvement of local employees in health and safety practices; and continuous training for both management and employees.

“We encourage all employees to take a personal stake in safety, both at work and at home – and their results are validated by this OSHA honor,” said Raytheon IDS’ Charles “Tom” Bush, vice president and mission center executive of the Seapower Capability Center. “It’s the right thing to do and ensures that we are doing everything possible to protect Raytheon’s most valuable asset: our people.”

Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN) – based in Waltham, Mass. – is a provider of electronics, system integration and support services to the military, homeland security and other government markets. Its Integrated Defense Systems division’s Seapower Capability Center in Portsmouth, R.I., concentrates on joint battlespace integration. Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide and posted 2007 sales of $21.3 billion. To learn more, visit www.raytheon.com.

Additional information – including details of the agency’s Voluntary Protection Programs – is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration at www.osha.gov.