28th April 2009 : Health & Safety Day in ArcelorMittal
28 April: Health and Safety Day is one of the most important dates in the ArcelorMittal calendar, as it offers an occasion to involve all staff in discussing safety improvements, new targets and associated safety programmes at Group as well as at plant level. As in 2007 and 2008, today ArcelorMittal is holding its Group-wide Health and Safety Day.
“Our vision in this regard is very simple. We have to become the Safest Steel Company in the world”, Lakshmi N Mittal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer says.
In 2009, the theme for Health and Safety Day is “Leading the Journey” which integrates the Company’s journey to reach zero accidents and zero illnesses in the future, as well as the Group wide concept of leading by example. “Journey to Zero”, ArcelorMittal’s Health and Safety improvement process, represents the committed pursuit of an injury-free, illness-free and healthy workplace.
Stainless Europe commitment to Health & Safety
On 28 April, ArcelorMittal takes part in local Health and Safety activities all around the world, organizes workshops and offers information to further improve its record on the “Journey to Zero”. In Stainless Europe, the Company shows :
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Strong CEO Commitment: each sites’ managers commit to imitate a good practice among those already listed internally or a commitment on an approach or a behaviour to set up on the site.
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The Company also offers an award signed by the BU’s CEO: for one person or for a group of persons for an exemplary action in term of health or safety. This award will be given during the Day D by the site’s manager.
A joint effort with International Labour Organisation
The 2009 Day puts a strong emphasis on Health and the sharing of best practices within the Group-wide Health network. The date coincides with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April. This date is recognised by trade unions throughout the world as a workers’ memorial day. According to the ILO it is: “a day in which we stop and think about those colleagues who have lost their lives at work. It is also a day in which we recommit ourselves to ensuring that health and safety standards improve and to the belief that no one should be killed at work.” That is why, even during the current difficult period, Health and Safety remains the number one priority within ArcelorMittal.
Safe sustainable steel is the basic operating philosophy that ArcelorMittal seeks to apply in daily business. On 3 June 2008 ArcelorMittal and trade unions across the globe signed a groundbreaking agreement to further improve Health and Safety standards throughout the Company. The agreement sets out minimum standards in every site that the Company operates in, so as to achieve world-class performance. These standards include the commitment to form joint management/union Health and Safety committees as well as training and education programmes in order to make a meaningful impact on overall Health and Safety across the Company.