Steel Safety Day: Strengthening safety in a high-risk industry

Steel Safety Day is a reminder that safety must be a shared value across the global steel industry. Established to reduce accidents, it highlights the risks workers face daily, from heavy machinery and extreme heat to hazardous materials, and reinforces our collective responsibility to protect them.

In 2023, World Steel Association (worldsteel) members reported 61 fatalities globally, representing a global fatal frequency rate (FFR) of 0.017, the lowest on record.  While this demonstrates progress, steelmaking remains a high-risk industry compared to other sectors. According to worldsteel, on average, 20% of incidents have the potential to lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Without strong safety frameworks, the risks associated with working in the steel industry can have devastating consequences for workers, families, and wider communities.

ResponsibleSteel members are making strong headway in fostering a culture of safety. At Arvedi AST, safety is a shared responsibility from leadership to the frontline. HSE Manager Fernando Camponi explains:

"In Arvedi AST, over the last few years, major efforts have been directed towards increasing the health and safety culture at every level, from management to workers, with particular reference to the key role of supervisors. As an example, we can mention the 'STAR' (Safety Training and Review) project, through which the most expert supervisors check on site the correct application of all safety operating instructions by all workers, providing, if necessary, for their revision or updating."

Meanwhile, Outokumpu has embraced technological innovation to enhance safety. Thorsten Piniek, VP of Health & Safety, comments:

"Safety of our people is our first priority. During 2024, we maintained world-class safety performance. We have implemented a structured way of doing safety behaviour observations and learning from each other across the organisation. Last year, our preventive safety actions were up 5% since 2023, so our people have done a fantastic job! In addition, our three safety robots utilising AI helped us reduce our employees' exposure to hazardous areas."

There is also a financial benefit to investing in health and safety. A 2017 study by the Institute for Work & Health in Canada found that employers investing in occupational health and safety in the manufacturing sector earned on average an estimated return of 24%.

As technology advances, so does our ability to prevent harm within the steel sector. But lasting progress relies on culture: empowering workers, building trust, and making safety the priority and default. A sustainable steel industry must first and foremost be a safe one.

At ResponsibleSteel, health and safety are core to our International Production Standard, as they are fundamental to a sustainable industry. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) principle embedded in our Production Standard ensures that the safety of workers is prioritised at every level of steel production. A sustainable industry must be safe for the people who power it, and without proper protections in place, there can be no true social or environmental progress.