EMPOWERING PEOPLE

SAFETY AND HEALTH

U. S. Steel coined the mantra “Safety First” well over a century ago, and ever since we have been deeply committed to the health and safety of everyone who works in our facilities.

Today we are more determined than ever to continue transforming what has traditionally been one of the most hazardous industries in all of manufacturing into one in which all our employees are well protected. The future of steel must be one that is safe for all.

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88%
of U. S. Steel’s facilities are ISO 45001 certified 

U. S. Steel coined the mantra “Safety First” around 1908.

 

SAFETY COMMITMENTS AND PROGRAMS

Among our 2023 efforts to further advance safety at U. S. Steel through initiatives and policies:

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

We improved our processes for safety risk assessment and risk management in several ways. We have a continuously evolving Risk Register that identifies jobs and tasks and ranks them by most risk to the least risk to prioritize areas of focus. We use a robust Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment process to continuously improve our safety processes and eliminate hazards.

DRIVING UTILIZATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

We have advanced our use of various technologies to improve our ability to assess and improve safety in 2023. That included continuing our use of a mobile application that enables supervisors to enter safety conversations in the field from their cell phones, allowing immediate and convenient reporting of potential issues from the shop floor, as well as quickly and efficiently getting safety information.
We are also now using advanced biometric devices to monitor employee health and signal employees and their supervisors to a potential problem before it causes physical distress.

TRAINING

We have newly hired employees attend more than two weeks of classroom-based orientation training prior to undertaking specific job qualification required training. We provide all new employees with on-the-job training, and with eight hours of annual safety awareness training every year in addition to the regular training they receive on their specific job functions.
To see our safety-related highlights, goals and progress, click here.

data

  2021 2022 2023
OSHA Recordable Cases 243 193 190
Days Away from Work Cases 14 11 9
Significant Injury Cases 79 57 59
OSHA Global Days Away From Work Incidence Rates 0.06 0.05 0.04

360° SAFETY

Our 360° Safety Initiative, led by Vice President and Chief Safety & Security Officer Robert Rudge Jr., is a comprehensive program endorsed by our President & CEO, Dave Burritt. This initiative, launched in 2020, is a collaborative effort among top safety, health, and HR leaders, continually evolving to meet our commitment to a safe and inclusive workplace.

READ THE DETAILS OF OUR 360 SAFETY INITIATIVE AND COMPANY EVENTS

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EVENTS AND ACTIONS

SAFETY FIRST

Safety First is our primary core value at U. S. Steel. We work every day to ensure our employees apply that principle at work, at home and everywhere in between. See how the spirit of Safety First was demonstrated in 2023 at our Automotive Center in Troy, Michigan.

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A PPE Fair at Mon Valley

The Irvin Plant at Mon Valley held a Safety Fair for employees in which 20 safety equipment vendors were invited to show their products. The event increased employee awareness of personal protective equipment (PPE), including the latest gloves and fall prevention equipment. It served as a successful way of engaging employees in safety awareness.

Innovating heat protection

In 2023, U. S. Steel’s BR1 Safety team won the AIST’s Safety & Health Innovation Award for addressing heat-related illnesses. They implemented wearable technology and a custom cooling system, resulting in zero heat-related OSHA Recordable Injuries in 2022 and 2023

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Improving Safety in Our Community

U. S. Steel donated over $61,000 to youth organizations near our Minnesota Ore Operations facilities. The funds provided specialized jerseys with cut-resistant neck guards for 650 youth hockey players. This initiative followed the tragic death of NHL player Adam Johnson and supports USA Hockey’s new safety mandate.

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STORIES

Using Artificial Intelligence to Avoid Incidents

In response to a 2021 fatality, we partnered with an AI company in 2022 to enhance electrical safety. Using real-time video and AI, the system monitors PPE use, guiding workers and alerting supervisors. Field trials began in 2023, demonstrating significant potential for improved safety and productivity in our facilities.

READ ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Employee Spotlight: Temple Haynes, Operational Excellence Engagement Manager and Ergonomic Injury Prevention Specialist

Temple Haynes is the Operational Excellence Engagement Manager and Ergonomic Injury Prevention Specialist at Mon Valley Works. A master trainer with 27 years of experience, Temple also owns a gym in the Pittsburgh area. Temple incorporates martial arts and ergonomic principles to help steel workers stay safe in the fast paced and intense plant environment by teaching them how to properly stretch before work and advocating for general health and wellness. He has implemented a stretching program at Mon Valley by designing a stretching cage and training employees how to use it.