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More than 480,000 people from 373 sites participated in the first industry-wide safety audit on 28 April this year including 39 member companies, representing 53% of worldsteel members’ production. Participating companies carried out a safety audit across the entire employee group from CEOs to engineers to managers, operators and service providers. The audit focused on identifying the hazards for the main causes of safety incidents within the steel industry and setting up action plans to manage the hazards and risks for each site. The audit revealed that 75% of safety hazards have mitigation plans for the five main causes of serious safety incidents, including moving machinery, fall from height, falling objects, gassing and asphyxiation and operations with cranes. The initiative not only provided the companies with an opportunity to review their existing safety measures but also make plans for new hazard situations found as a result of the audits, reducing further safety risks. Edwin Basson, Director General of worldsteel said: “This audit reconfirmed that many steel companies have excellent safety programmes in place and implement rigorous practices on a daily basis. But when it comes to safety, we believe anything less than 100% is not enough, and we have to make sure every company and related organisation in the steel industry has effective and adequate safety measures in place. The audit experience again showed clearly that strong leadership is the key element to shift the safety system from administration to prevention. Therefore, we urge all steel producers and related organisations to plan for the Steel Safety Day in their annual business plan for 2015 and to continue this crucial initiative in the following years.” Henk Reimink, Director for Safety, Technology and Environment at worldsteel stated: “What we have learned from this industry-wide campaign is invaluable. The core aspects of successful safety programmes are proactive engagement of all employees and contractors, strong leadership and direct involvement from management, and sharing of information and experience within the industry. We believe that the steel industry is capable of producing steel without injuries all of the time. If you can produce it injury-free for a shift or a week, month or year, then why not always? The goal is zero: an injury-free, and heathy workplace.” Note: • 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 9 of the world’s 10 largest steel companies), national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. worldsteel members represent around 85% of world steel production. |
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