The Columbus, Ind., and Walbridge, Ohio, plants of AK Tube LLC have received the Safety Award of Merit from the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), a trade organization that serves the metal forming and fabricating industry.
The awards annually recognize companies for outperforming their industry's injury and illness rate by at least 10%. Calculations are performed using data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All award winners are selected by an FMA committee sponsored by CNA Insurance Group.
With a total injury and illness rate of 1.0 in 2009, AK Tube's safety performance in Columbus was about 7.5 times better than the industry average. The Walbridge plant had a rate of 0.8 in 2009, which was about nine times better than the industry average.
"Earning the FMA's Safety Award of Merit exemplifies our culture of safety at AK Steel," said James L. Wainscott, AK Steel Chairman, President, and CEO. "We congratulate everyone at AK Tube in Columbus and Walbridge for their outstanding safety performance—an achievement that reflects AK Steel's commitment to safety at all of our plant operations."
"By winning the Safety Award of Merit, AK Tube LLC has demonstrated its commitment to recognizing employees' safe work habits, stimulating interest in accident prevention, and promoting safety in the workplace," said Gerald Shankel, President and CEO of FMA. "We congratulate them on a job well done."
Both AK Tube facilities are now two-time recipients of FMA's Safety Award of Merit.
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6200 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pa.; Ashland, Ky.; Rockport, Ind.; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio.
AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio, and Columbus, Ind. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.