Brussels, 3 March 2014 – The World Steel Association (worldsteel) announces today its plan to launch a Steel Safety Day, reiterating its commitment to the safety and health of the people who work in the steel industry. This safety awareness day is aligned with the World Safety Day held by the International Labour Organisation on 28 April every year. In support of this global event, worldsteel and its members will carry out an industry-wide safety audit.
worldsteel has carried out an analysis on safety and health practices in the steel industry over the last five years and has identified the main causes of serious safety incidents. The Steel Safety Day is set up to reinforce awareness of the five most common causes of safety incidents and to create a safer working environment across the entire steel industry worldwide.
Edwin Basson, Director General of worldsteel said: “worldsteel is requesting all its members as well as all related organisations within the steel industry to carry out a special audit on the five main causes of safety incidents in all plants around the world. This should engage both employees and service providers involving as many as four million people in total.”
“We hope to see that every steel plant in the world has carried out the recommended audit, has identified and developed a plan or already eliminated the risks associated with the main five causes of incidents and put all mitigating measures permanently into place. At the end of this industry-wide collective effort, we can say that we have made our workplace even safer than it is today.”
Andrew Page, Chairman of worldsteel Safety and Health Committee said: “Nothing is more important than the safety and health of the people working in the steel industry and management is responsible and accountable for safety and health performance in their organisation. The steel industry has seen a steady and notable reduction in the rate of injuries since 2006 and the average lost time injury frequency rate has gone down by 50% in the last five years. But our goal remains to create an injury-free, illness-free and healthy workplace with zero incidents.”
• The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world. worldsteel represents approximately 170 steel producers (including 17 of the world’s 20 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. worldsteel members represent around 85% of world steel production.