The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the three major trade associations representing virtually all of the basic and specialty steel producers in America have joined forces in an effort to enhance worker safety and health in the nation's steel mills.

Chairmen and top staff executives of the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Steel Manufacturers Association, and the Specialty Steel Industry of North America signed an historic one-year Alliance with OSHA that seeks the synergistic benefits of working together to improve employee safety.

Key elements of the Alliance will be built around development of a steel industry safety and health management process reference tool; disseminating related information through OSHA and steel industry print and electronic media; promoting prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses through association and member company participation in conferences and meetings; cross-training of OSHA and steel industry safety professionals; and promoting the benefits of OSHA’s cooperative programs.

American Iron and Steel Institute Chairman David S. Sutherland, President and CEO of Ipsco, Inc., stated, "We are pleased that OSHA is committed to expanding its cooperative approach to improve workplace safety. OSHA working with steel producers to help employees understand the value of safety can only serve to enhance benefits for both employees and their employers." Andrew G. Sharkey III, AISI's President and CEO, added that, "AISI and its member companies have a longstanding history, dating back nearly three-quarters of a century, of promoting safe working conditions in the steel industry. For each of the past ten years, U.S. steel producers have experienced fewer injuries than the manufacturing average and achieved nearly a 50% reduction in the major statistical measures over the same time period. We look forward to working with OSHA as a partner in this Alliance."

Specialty Steel Industry of North America Chairman Jack W. Shilling, Executive Vice President with Allegheny Technologies Inc., said, “The members of the Specialty Steel Producers of North America are proud of their workplace safety record and eagerly look forward to working with the Alliance stakeholders.” David A. Hartquist, Esq., counsel for Specialty Steel Industry of North America, added that, “I commend Assistant Secretary of Labor John Henshaw for developing the Alliance process and for his foresight in understanding the importance of industry and government working cooperatively to address workplace challenges.”

Steel Manufacturer Association Chairman Keith Busse, President and CEO of Steel Dynamics, Inc., stated that, “Maintaining worker safety is a top priority for SMA members and we are optimistic that creating this important Alliance with OSHA will help us in our efforts to effectively communicate this commitment to our employees.” SMA President Thomas A. Danjczek added that, “SMA has actively promoted safety among its members and supports this vital Alliance with OSHA."

AISI is a non-profit association of North American companies engaged in the iron and steel industry. AISI is comprised of 31 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.

The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) is the primary trade association for scrap-based electric arc furnace steelmakers, whose minimills comprise the nation’s largest recyclers and account for over half of the steel produced in the US today. It consists of 40 North American companies that operate over 130 facilities and employ approximately 40,000 people including the production and fabrication of steel.

SSINA is a Washington DC based trade association representing 11 members who account for virtually all continental specialty steel production.