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For Immediate Release WEIRTON, W.VA. – Weirton Steel Corp. continues to make improvements in adapting ergonomics to its safety program and work environment. Applying ergonomics to the workplace has helped reduce the number of employees on the medical department's case management list, which represents those employees who are receiving total temporary disability (workers' compensation) benefits. Since 1999, employees receiving workers' compensation at Weirton Steel has dropped 54 percent, boosting annual cost savings to approximately $4.5 million. More importantly, however, ergonomic applications have enhanced the well-being of employees on and off the job. Weirton Steel has reduced employee injuries because of its constant emphasis on developing ergonomic and safety improvements throughout the company and operating an efficient rehabilitation program within its medical and physical therapy departments. Furthermore, workplace and health system improvements have made it possible for injured employees to recover and return to work more quickly than in the past. A team of hourly and salaried employees directs the company's ergonomics improvement process, constantly studying methods and means to improve workplace safety. Management and union officials also encourage employees at all organization levels to discover more effective ways to perform their jobs. At the basic oxygen plant (BOP), millwrights now move heavy drums of grease used to lubricate machinery along a portable grease system rather than manually. The new procedure significantly reduces the risk of injury and saves money by decreasing the amount of time to perform the job. In addition, BOP millwrights can grease more machinery in the time they save using mechanized instead of manual labor. Now that they are greased more often, BOP teeming car platforms operate more efficiently, the cost for parts are lower and man-hours required to perform the work have decreased. Blast furnace mechanical department personnel also have reduced their risk for injury by replacing heavy oak beams used for cribbing with lightweight aluminum beams. Their electrical co-workers have beefed up safety in all blast furnace areas by installing better lighting and are organizing work materials for easier, safer availability. Blast furnace production employees also have taken numerous steps to advance safety and production in their work environment. Maintenance employees at the sheet mill's No. 3 galvanizing line now have better access to their jobs after installation of an overhead crane. The new crane also has reduced their chances to incur strains and sprains, the leading types of injuries in Weirton Steel's work environment; decreases downtime during equipment changes and increases production. Operation services employees also are very involved in making their workplace more safe, productive and efficient. Ergonomic improvements in all departments have altered the way work is performed. Computer work stations have been modified to lower risk of injury to those using them. "Despite the changing climate within the steel industry and the challenges that confront us, the safety of our employees and our ergonomics program remain priorities," said John Walker, Weirton Steel's president and chief executive officer. "I commend the conscientious and thorough work of the many people who work around the clock to promote and practice safety every working day." "It's important we continue to make progress in the evolving science of ergonomics and not only reduce, but also eliminate injuries and accidents," Walker added. Independent Steelworkers Union President Mark Glyptis also lauded the efforts of the ergonomics team. "While our employees strive to offer the best production and service anywhere in the industry, they also are driven to perform their duties as safely as possible. That's why the members of our ergonomics team and the projects they've incorporated into our environment have been so successful. "I encourage all employees to think safety in everything they do and work to make Weirton Steel the safest workplace it can be."
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