Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 03 February 2011 -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Verso Paper Corp. (NYSE:VRS) announced today it exceeded the company's safety goals for 2010 with a lost workday incidence rate (LWIR) of 0.07, which is world class performance, and a total incidence rate (TIR) of 1.36. These outstanding results place Verso at the top of the first quartile for safety performance among paper industry peers, according to the American Forest and Paper Association's most recent Benchmarking Survey.

"Verso is proud of our industry-leading safety performance and that our 2010 TIR and LWIR performance was the best in Verso's history," said David Sams, Verso's director of Environment, Health, and Safety. "More importantly, we are proud that our people are working more safely. We are moving closer to an environment where no one gets hurt at work. Verso's ultimate goal is zero injuries."

Verso's path to top quartile safety performance is the result of a carefully developed strategy that engages every employee in the spirit of ownership for safety through Advanced Safety Leadership Forums. Employees and teams at all levels in the organization are challenged to look beyond the norm to identify what's possible to achieve in safety excellence. Once targeted opportunities are identified, safety leaders develop action plans to close the gaps and rally their teams to improve performance.

Verso has been recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for its participation in the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Three of Verso's four manufacturing facilities have achieved Star status in VPP, and the fourth facility continues to work on opportunities that will prepare it for VPP recognition. Less than 1% of the nation's facilities have achieved OSHA Star status.

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Verso Paper Corporation is a leading North American producer of coated papers, including coated groundwood and coated freesheet, and supercalendered and specialty products. Verso's paper products are used primarily in media and marketing applications, including magazines, catalogs, and commercial printing applications such as high-end advertising brochures, annual reports, and direct-mail advertising. Additional information about Verso is available at www.versopaper.com.