"We have a commitment to safety here, " Maytsiak said. "Our goal is to incorporate safety into the everyday routine – not just at work, but at home, too."

Last year, Weirton Steel was the first company of its size in West Virginia – and only the second steelmaker in the nation – to complete the intensive U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour general industrial certification training. Nearly 4,300 hourly and management workers completed an eight-hour safety course and 500 supervisors participated in the OSH course.

To build upon the success of the 1998 training, Matysiak plans to reinforce goals stressed then as well as tackle new issues. Actual training will begin March 8 and continue through November.

The eight-hour session will be attended by everyone – hourly and management whose duties require them to go into the mill. Emphasis will be placed on "risks, rewards, consequences" and "changing the safety culture." Also scheduled for discussion are radiation safety, asbestos control and preventing strains and sprains.

Introduced to Charlie Moorecraft last year, the 1999 trainees will see Part 2 of his dramatic video and participate in a team exercise.

Matysiak said this year’s special two-day sessions are designed to enhance the safety skills of maintenance and production supervisors.

The maintenance supervisors will review lock out, confined space entry, observations and fall protection. Production supervisors will go over mobile equipment and cranes, observations, hazard communication, housekeeping, personal protective equipment and accident investigation.

Both groups also will review safety policies and procedures that directly affect the individual worker.

Delbert Littleton, Independent Steelworkers union safety chairman, said the union is continuing to support safety training at the highest level. The ISU and company regularly collaborates to improve safety awareness and to promote safe workplace conditions.

"We’re pleased to see the company had decided to continue the safety training this year in light of its cost containment program to offset the impact of the steel import problem. Safety is something we cannot afford to set aside," Littleton commented.

On March 2, the company’s executive management and the ISU’s executive committee were provided an overview of the training. A "dress rehearsal" also recently was held to help the corporate safety staff and safety specialists review the training and make suggestions.

One change in this year’s training will be location. The sessions now will be held in the Mill Administration Building basement conference room.

Even though this year’s sessions have yet to begin, Matysiak already is planning training programs for next year.

"Safety is never far from our minds," he explained. "We’re already looking to address the needs of the year 2000, especially in the areas of observation and behavior techniques."