Health and safety 1/6

ArcelorMittalSouthAfrica

Sustainability Report for 2008

ArcelorMittal South Africa’s commitment to the health and

safety of its employees and contractors is a top priority

for management. We are guided by the principle that

all injuries and work-related illnesses can and must be

prevented and that excellence in the area of health and

safety supports sound business results.

Health and safety

Structures to govern and engage

Management at the highest level is accountable

for health and safety and is committed to

achieving our goal of zero fatalities and lost time

injuries. Our key stakeholders in this issue include

employees, contractors and hired labour, trade

unions, management as well as national and local

authorities. The various governance structures,

meetings and forums detailed on this page allow

for regular engagement on health and safety issues.

Major incidents and

events

In spite of our best efforts and

although the 2007/2008 year

saw a long period recorded

without a fatality (14 months),

a fatal incident in Saldanha

Works on 22 September 2008

led to the tragic loss of an

employee and a contractor.

Both died as a result of

exposure to carbon monoxide

gas.

Fatalities (employees and contractors)

In all health and safety-related issues, we are

guided by the corporate health and safety

policies of the global ArcelorMittal Group, as well

as the safety, health and environmental (SHE)

management policy of ArcelorMittal South Africa.

These policies are approved at board level, and

implemented by the company’s various business

units, divisions, departments and shift units.

In accordance with established

practices, we conducted a full

enquiry and root cause analysis

into the incident. The causes

identified included inadequate

lock out procedures, deviation

from prescribed procedures

and poor evacuation practices

during the incident.

2002

■ Employees

■ Contractors

2003

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Managers hold safety discussions with employees

at the beginning of each new shift, highlighting

areas of danger and risks associated with particular

tasks. Union representatives also participate in

safety meetings.

During 2008, employee wellness was incorporated

into the health and safety portfolio, in line with

global group practice. The group manager for

safety, health and employee wellness reports

to the President and the SHE Committee of the

board, which comprises the CEO, President, COO,

Works general managers, Company Secretary and

a representative from one of the three trade unions

that operate at ArcelorMittal South Africa.

A project team was established

under the leadership of the

general manager, Saldanha

Works, and relevant plant

managers, to address these

findings and develop guidelines

for safety improvement based

on lessons learned from the

incident. These have been

shared with all operations to

prevent similar occurrences.

Routine work area assessments are held to

identify where the key health risks lie, and a risk-

based medical surveillance programme monitors

the health of employees on an ongoing basis.

Employees are also encouraged to voice their

concerns about health and safety risks at various

work areas.

The SHE Committee meets once a quarter to

discuss safety strategy and performance.

In accordance with legislation, each plant needs

to hold a safety meeting at least once a quarter,

though most plants have them at monthly

intervals. Employees and contractors are required

to attend these meetings and are encouraged to

make suggestions about how to improve safety

performance and systems.

Identifying our top health and safety risks

Through incident analysis and various risk

assessments, we have identified the following

safety risks as common to steel making:

• Working at heights;

• Cranes and lifting;