AK Steel Chairman Receives First NSC Green Cross for Safety

July 12, 2000
The National Safety Council (NSC) selected AK Steel's Richard M. Wardrop Jr., to receive\r\nthe council's first Green Cross for Safety Medallion.

The National Safety Council (NSC) selected Richard M. Wardrop Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of AK Steel Corp., to receive the council''s first Green Cross for Safety Medallion.

Wardrop was chosen for his long-standing commitment to workplace safety and corporate citizenship.

"The NSC is extremely pleased and excited to honor Dick Wardrop with our inaugural Green Cross for Safety Medallion," said Gerard Scannell, NSC President. "Dick''s business operating philosophy represents the kind of CEO commitment to workplace safety and community service that sets an example for companies everywhere."

Scannell said AK Steel, headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, is one of the nation''s leaders in creating and maintaining a safety culture throughout the company.

Besides its comprehensive workplace safety program, the company emphasizes its safety performance in its annual reports to stockholders and other public reports.

"AK Steel prides itself on being ''first in safety'' in the steel industry," said Scannell. "In addition, AK Steel has demonstrated a strong sense of corporate responsibility through its positive contributions to the communities where its plants are located. We could not have selected a more deserving recipient of our first Green Cross than Dick Wardrop."

AK Steel''s safety program has three major elements: a complete management commitment to safety; a strong employee and contractor safety program; and extensive employee participation in the most comprehensive safety training and awareness programs in the steel industry.

According to the company, more than 30 production and maintenance employees work as full-time safety coordinators at AK Steel''s plants, augmenting a staff of more than 30 safety and industrial hygiene professionals as well as contractor safety specialists.

AK Steel managers conduct more than 7,000 safety observations each week.

As a result of its three-pronged approach to safety, AK Steel boasts the best safety record in the industry.

In 1999, AK Steel had a total recordable injury rate of 1.63, an improvement of more than 9 percent over the previous year, and about one-third of the carbon steel industry average.

In addition, Scannell said, the company actively participates in improving community safety, education, culture and quality of life in its plant communities through corporate grants, donations by the AK Steel Foundation and employee volunteer programs.

Wardrop joined AK Steel in 1992 and was instrumental in turning the troubled firm, then known as Armco Steel Co., into one of the country''s most successful steel companies.

The award, will be presented to Wardrop at the council''s first annual fundraising dinner in September in New York City.

AK Steel has about 11,000 employees in plants and offices throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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