HOUSTON, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation registered an outstanding safety performance in 2013 with its total recordable incident rate (TRIR) being less than half of the refining industry average. According to industry figures recently released by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the industry average last year was 0.48, while CITGO recorded a rate of 0.23.

"These results show that at CITGO, we are deeply committed to health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting the men and women who work in our facilities and the individuals who live in the communities near our operations," said Rafael Gomez, CITGO Vice President of Government and Public Affairs.

AFPM recognized CITGO with nine awards for various safety achievements in 2013. The awards included three Meritorious Safety Performance Awards, for: Corpus Christi (0.2 TRIR); Lake Charles (0.4 TRIR); and Lemont (0.3 TRIR).

CITGO was also recognized with six Achievement Awards. Of these, each the three refineries obtained one for achieving one-million-plus employee hours without a DART case (days away from work, restricted, or transfer) involving an employee or a workplace-related fatality involving an employee or a non-employee (for example, a contractor, visitor, etc.).

Additionally, each of the three refineries also obtained an award for having worked one or more years (365 consecutive days) without a DART case of involving an employee or a workplace-related fatality involving an employee or a non-employee.

Earlier this year, the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) also recognized CITGO with its Platinum Safety Award for safety excellence, making it the third time that CITGO received this coveted industry award in the last eight years.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products.  The Company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

For more information, visit www.citgo.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation