The OHSAS 18001:2007 standard provides a framework for companies who want to improve their occupational health and safety performance by providing a system based on employee participation and continual improvement through a structured management review process. The standard was recently aligned to be compatible with ISO 14001:2004, which is the comparable environmental management standard. Republic has been ISO 14001-certified since December 2001.
"Seeking OHSAS certification is a demonstration of Republic's commitment to ensuring the health and safety of our employees, contractors and visitors to our plants," said Jaime Vigil, President and CEO. "We plan to integrate the health and safety practices into a system comparable to our ISO 14001-certified environmental management system, and we are committed to working with all our employees to make our plants safer and cleaner places to work."
Last month, Republic reached a labor agreement with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers Union. One of the cornerstones of the new agreement is Article Three, titled "Health, Safety and the Environment." The section provides the framework for a joint, collaborative effort between Republic management and union personnel to further improve the company's safety performance.
"We are excited about this opportunity and have planned to be OHSAS 18001 certified by the end of next year," continued Jaime Vigil. "Further, I have asked Leonard Wisniewski to lead the efforts for our certification goal and the integration of Article Three into the new system. I have given him authority to hire two health and safety engineers to provide additional support."
Republic Engineered Products is a leading North American supplier of special bar quality (SBQ) steel. With headquarters in Fairlawn, Ohio, the company operates steelmaking centers in Canton and Lorain, Ohio, and value-added rolling and finishing facilities in Canton, Lorain and Massillon, Ohio; Lackawanna, N.Y.; Gary, Ind.; and Hamilton, Ont., Canada. Republic employs approximately 2500 people.