Jul 8 2004
IPSCO Inc., today announced its President and CEO David Sutherland, the Chairman of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), signed a historic one-year Alliance with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). On behalf of AISI member producers, Sutherland signed the Alliance to launch a cooperative partnership between the steel industry and OSHA designed to enhance worker safety and health in the nation's steel mills. Two other major trade associations representing basic and specialty steel producers also signed the Alliance, agreeing to work together to improve employee safety.
Key elements of the Alliance will be built around the development of a steel industry safety and health management process reference tool, disseminating safety related information through OSHA and steel industry print and electronic media, promoting prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses through association and member company participation in conferences and meetings, and cross-training of OSHA and steel industry safety professionals.
"We are pleased to join OSHA in a commitment to expand the cooperative approach to improve workplace health and safety," said Sutherland. "OSHA working with steel producers to eliminate factors that contribute to accidents can serve only to benefit both employees and their employers," he added.
IPSCO also played a key role in developing the Alliance framework through its Director of Corporate Safety, John Carroll, who also chairs the AISI's Safety and Health Committee. Carroll says he is looking forward to working with OSHA to improve and address workplace challenges. "Maintaining worker safety is a top priority for IPSCO and our colleagues in the steel industry and this important Alliance with OSHA will help us to effectively share our knowledge and resources to the benefit of worker's health and safety." Carroll also notes that a key element of the partnership is a joint working committee with members from both industry and government meeting regularly and encouraging free and open exchange on topics related to safety.
The AISI reports that for each of the past ten years, U.S. steel producers have experienced fewer injuries than the manufacturing average and have achieved significant reduction in each major statistical measure over the same time period. Based in Washington, DC, the AISI is a non-profit association of North American companies representing more than 30 integrated and electric furnace carbon steel producing members.
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