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29 August, 2011A small group of experts from the ArcelorMittal Joint Global Health and Safety Committee visited the Vinton Steel Works in El Paso, Texas. The group, made up of representatives from the European Metalworkers' Federation, United Steelworkers and International Metalworkers' Federation found that although some examples of best practice existed, in the main safety conditions in the plant were below standard and need urgent attention.
USA: Two main priorities identified by the group are first to improve the participation and way the local joint health and safety committee functions (JHSC) and then develop a joint action plan. The second priority is to build a consistent and credible approach to health and safety issues. For example, on a plant tour the group witnessed several unsafe acts near supervision with no action taken, yet a worker who lost his thumb in an accident was under the threat of disciplinary action.
The Vinton plant operates a mini-mill. It has 2 Electric Arc Furnaces and is the largest steel maker in West Texas and New Mexico. It began operations in 1962 as a publicly owned company. After several changes in ownership it was taken over by ArcelorMittal in April 2007. The site has 448 employees which are represented by the United Steelworkers (USW). The USW collective agreement covers 280 workers but only 60 are members of the union. Local union president Local 9424-01 Roberto Castanon is working hard to build union density but these efforts are not helped by the 140 contractors or temporary employees that form a quarter of the workforce.
Having so many contractors on the site is also having an impact on safety performance with 25 lost time incidents this year of which 16 are attributed to temporary or contract workers. Despite efforts by management to address this situation the number of accidents/incidents has increased steadily over the last 3 years.
Rob Johnston, Executive Director at the International Metalworkers Federation, commented: "In any steel plant you have the potential for a fatality, but currently in Vinton you have a higher potential. We got a clear commitment from the union and management to work together. That opportunity needs to be seized upon urgently"
At the conclusion of the visit the group of experts made a number of recommendations. They included better participation of union and workers in the local JHSC (currently only 2 out of 30 members are union representatives). Regular safety walks/audits should take place, including with union and senior management participation (the last was eight months ago). A joint training plan should be developed for union reps and supervisors. A credible action plan should be developed jointly and regularly reviewed by the JHSC to ensure progress. Also, a number of corrective actions for specific hazards were identified.