Safety and health
A safe and healthy working environment for all employees is the number one priority for every worldsteel member. Our policy is to help all our members achieve an accident-free workplace.
Historically, steelmaking was a dangerous process and accidents were inevitable. Today, many steel companies recognise that this is not true or appropriate for a modern and technically advanced industry.
There is no area, process or type of work that cannot be accident-free. Safety and health requires a permanent 100% commitment from everyone. Most importantly, it requires a strong commitment from the top. The senior management of a steel company sets the culture in which everyone knows that safety and health is the number one priority and it must not be compromised for any other objective.
Many steel companies are improving their safety and health performance and some businesses have gone without any lost time injuries or fatalities for many years. These companies know that such performance requires excellence in all aspects of their operations. This excellence also produces superior business performance. The most successful steel companies are also the safest.
worldsteel member companies are committed to eliminating accidents and injuries from the industry and significant improvements have been achieved over recent years, as shown in the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) graph below.
To see a bigger version of the chart: click here.
Sharing experience and good practice
In 1999, IISI (now worldsteel) produced the report Accident-free steel. It remains the definitive document for safety and health management in the industry.
In 2006, the Board of Directors issued a set of principles that clearly outline the industry philosophy on safety and health.
Nothing is more important than the safety and health of the people who work in the steel industry.
- All injuries and work-related illness can and must be prevented.
- Management is responsible and accountable for safety and health performance.
- Employee engagement and training is essential.
- Working safely is a condition of employment.
- Excellence in safety and health supports excellent business results.
- Safety and health must be integrated in all business management processes.
To further support these principles, a guidance booklet was produced in 2008. It is available in 10 languages as downloadable PDF files from the Bookshop.
The Safety and Health Excellence Recognition Programme
In 2008, worldsteel launched an excellence recognition programme. Member companies submit examples of how they place a high priority on safety and health performance through various initiatives and projects.
A jury of experts selects the most outstanding submissions and the names of the companies are announced at the worldsteel annual conference.
