AK Tube LLC’s Columbus, Ind., and Walbridge, Ohio, plants have been recognized by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) and CNA Insurance for outstanding safety performances in 2008.
FMA/CAN awarded the Columbus plant its Safety Award of Honor from for working the entire year with no recordable injuries or illnesses, the second consecutive year the plant earned the award. A previous recipient of FMA's Safety Award of Merit award (for its 2006 safety performance), the Columbus plant also participates as a Star site in the Indiana Department of Labor's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The VPP Star signifies that the plant's employee programs go above and beyond Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, and reflects a cooperative relationship between management, employees and OSHA.
The Walbridge plant earned the FMA/CNA Safety Award of Merit, which is presented for posting an injury and illness incident rate that is better than the published Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) rate for their industry by 10% or greater. For 2008, Walbridge's injury and illness incident rate of 1.75 was 77% better than the BLS rate for their industry.
"We congratulate the employees at AK Tube's Columbus and Walbridge facilities for their exceptional safety achievements," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel, of which AK Tube is a wholly owned subsidiary. "Their performance exemplifies AK Steel's commitment to safety as our number one priority."
FMA noted that the awards "recognize the company's commitment to providing a safe work environment for its most valuable assets, the employees."
AK Steel reported steel industry-leading safety results for 2008, including a corporate-wide total recordable injury rate of only 0.28 last year, which was about 8 times better than the industry average of 2.33, according to data compiled by the American Iron and Steel Institute.
FMA is the leading association serving the metal forming and fabricating industry. Headquartered in Rockford, Ill., the association has more than 2000 members.
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6300 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pa.; Ashland, Ky.; Rockport, Ind.; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio.
AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 260 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio, and Columbus, Ind. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.