OAO Severstal Boosts Plant Safety Performance in 2008
03/24/2009 - Severstal’s Russian Steel division reduces job-related incidents by 37% in 2008, thanks to the investment of RUR 330.1 million and the execution of more than 250 actions to improve industrial and fire safety as well as workplace labor conditions at its Cherepovets Steel Mill.
Severstal’s Russian Steel division reported the investment of RUR 330.1 million and the execution of more than 250 actions to improve industrial and fire safety and provide healthy workplace labor conditions at its Cherepovets Steel Mill. Overall, the company spent RUR 1,088.1 million on health and industrial safety activities in 2008.
The company said these actions have resulted in a 37% overall reduction of job-related incidents, and a 20% reduction of hazardous fire incidents compared to 2007. The company noted that micro-injury cases at Izhora Pipe Mill had been reduced by 25% compared to 2007, while no incidents involving staff or contractors were reported at SMC-Kolpino over the period from 2007 to 2008.
Severstal’s Resources Division also reported a substantial reduction in injury rates, including a 32% reduction in occupational injuries in 2008 compared to 2007. With implementation of the comprehensive program, “Safety for Everybody”, the annual injury rate was reduced by 30-40% over the past three years. This program implements the DuPont methodology, with a core emphasis on the need for corporate culture development, thus raising the overall awareness of health and safety amongst all employees. Since 2005, the number of occupational injuries fell by 80%
The Severstal-Resources Division spent RUR 758 million on improving employee health and safety, including RUR 518 million spent at the OAO Vorkutaugol mines.
OAO Severstal, an international metals and mining company, focuses on high value added and unique niche products and has a successful track record of acquiring and integrating high-quality assets in North America and Europe. Incorporated in 1993, the company owns mining assets in Russia and in North America, thus securing its supplies of raw materials. Its enterprises are located in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, France, Italy, United States and Africa. In 2008, Severstal produced 19.2 million tonnes of steel, reporting revenues of $22.4 billion, EBITDA of $5.4 billion, and EPS of $2.2.
Severstal Resources, one of Russia’s largest mining companies, manages all Severstal‘s mining assets: two iron ore mining complexes (Karelsky Okatysh and Olcon) and a coking coal complex (Vorkutaugol) in northwest Russia, one coking coal complex in the U.S. (PBS Coals), an exploration project Severstal Liberia Iron Ore in Western Africa and a mine design institute SPb-Giproshakht. In 2008 Severstal Resources' mines and plants produced 9.3 million tonnes of iron ore pellets, 4.7 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate, 4.6 million tonnes of coking coal concentrate, 0.7 million tonnes of coking coal, 2.2 million tonnes of steam coal and 6 tonnes of gold.
