Safety, Health and Wellness
Safety comes first: the wellbeing of our workforce and contractors is our number one priority. A strong health and safety culture in instilled at every level of the company and is supported by a robust set of safety standards. The company is committed to continuous safety improvement to reach its goal of zero fatalities and injuries. In meeting this mandate, the company is guided by the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) policy which is implemented at board, Exco, business unit, division, department and shift level and which is governed by the SHE Committee of the Board.
Safeguarding the health of employees
Occupational health and hygiene are governed by the company's SHE policy and all issues relating to this area are overseen by the SHE Committee of the Board. When employees and contractors fall ill as a result of occupational hazards, the productivity of the entire company suffers, but apart from this clear business case, ArcelorMittal South Africa recognises both its legal and moral responsibility to protect the health of its workers. The company is committed to identifying, managing and eliminating any undesirable impacts that its operations may have on the health of employees, contractors and any other stakeholders on our premises.
In August 2021, Vanderbijlpark took delivery of a mobile medical unit. Being mobile, the unit will be able to conduct various tests including audiometry and vision screening, post-Covid-19 spirometry and physical examinations at Pretoria and Vereeniging.
Voluntary HIV testing and counselling are provided by the Hands of Hope NGO. When required, Hands of Hope also does referrals for treatment. We continue to offer employees psychological support, including support in the event of traumatic incidents.
Managing our environmental impact
As a corporate citizen concerned about the welfare and sustainability of the environment, ArcelorMittal South Africa is committed to managing the impact of its operations on the natural world. The company recognises that the steelmaking process and its waste and by-products have many potentially harmful effects, which include the emission of CO2 gases as a result of the considerable carbon used to manufacture steel, particulate and other air emissions such as SO2 , the disposal of slags and other waste, water consumption, pollution and wastage, and energy consumption. The company’s Environmental Policy governs the responsible management of these environmental risks, providing a framework for the setting of objectives and targets within the group.
The size of the tasks facing the company as it tackles its environmental challenges is tremendous and is identified as one of the top risks facing ArcelorMittal South Africa. It enjoys the board and management's priority attention. Compliance with current environmental legislation in South Africa is viewed as non negotiable and the company is co-operating with all relevant regulators and government departments