AFL Telecommunications Wins South Carolina Safety Honors.

Business Editors

SPARTANBURG, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2003

Alcoa's AFL Telecommunications operations in Spartanburg, S.C. will receive two safety honors from the South Carolina Occupational Safety Council (SCOSC) for excelling in workplace safety and health during 2002. The awards will be presented at SCOSC's 66th Annual Conference slated for April 16 - 18 in Myrtle Beach.

AFL Telecommunications will receive the Palmetto Safety Excellence Award for its safe operations of its Ridgeview facility, where aerial fiber optic cable is manufactured. This award is given to companies with the lowest OSHA Total Recordable Incidence Rate (TRIR) in the same Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). AFL had the lowest TRIR of all companies in South Carolina in its classification, with a rate at least 50% below the state average incidence rate.

AFL's Hillside manufacturing facility, which is home to Alcoa Conductor Accessories, Photonics and Fusion Splicing Systems groups, will receive a South Carolina Safety Award Certificate. This award is presented to companies with an OSHA Recordable Incidence Rate that is 50% below the state average incident rate for companies in the same SIC.

AFL Telecommunications has been a part of the Upstate since 1985 and employs about 500.

About SCOSC

The South Carolina Occupational Safety Council is a non-profit organization made of up more than 700 private and public sector employers. The mission of the Council is to provide educational resources and training to members on safety, health and environmental issues in order to enrich the lives of employees, help provide a safe and healthful place to work and to allow industries to stay competitive in a global economy.

About AFL Telecommunications

Alcoa's AFL Telecommunications is an industry leader in providing fiber optic products, engineering expertise and integrated services to the Electric Utility, Broadband, Telco, OEM, Private Network and Wireless markets. It has operations in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K. For more information, visit www.AFLtele.com.