AK Steel said June 1 that the Columbus, Ind., plant of its wholly-owned subsidiary AK Tube LLC has received the "Safety Award of Merit" from the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International (FMA) for its 2006 safety performance. FMA noted that the award "recognizes the company's commitment to providing a safe work environment for its most valuable assets, the employees."
"Congratulations to our AK Tube Columbus, Ind., employees for their outstanding 2006 safety performance," said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel. "Safety is always our company's highest priority and it is an honor to be recognized for that commitment."
The Columbus plant's illness and injury incidence rate of 1.48 for 2006 was more than five times better than the pipe and tube industry average rate of 8.3, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also during 2006, the Columbus plant was approved for participation 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.
During 2006, AK Steel led the steel industry in safety with a corporate-wide total injury rate 10 times better than the industry average, according to data compiled by the American Iron and Steel Institute.
With more than 1,900 members, FMA is the leading educational association serving the metal forming and fabricating industry. FMA is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. AK Tube LLC, with facilities in Columbus, Ind., and Walbridge, Ohio, manufactures electric resistance welded (ERW) carbon and stainless steel tubing for a variety of applications, primarily in the automotive and truck exhaust markets. AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets, as well as tubular steel products.