West Chester, Ohio-based AK Steel responded on October 5 to allegations by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding a small number of recordkeeping violations at the company's Middletown Works. The alleged violations followed a seven month inspection by OSHA that took place at the plant from January 12, 2010 to August 11, 2010 under OSHA's Local Emphasis Program for primary metal producers. During the course of the on-site investigation, which involved three OSHA compliance officers, as well as a physician from the Department of Labor, AK Steel provided nearly four years' worth of safety and health records, and the record review period accounted for over 19 million hours worked by AK Steel employees during which time the plant's OSHA recordable injury rate was about eight times better than the steel industry average.
OSHA alleges that AK Steel failed to properly record several work-related injuries as ones involving restricted work. In each case, however, the injured employees were examined by a physician and determined to be capable of performing the full scope of their job. OSHA has offered absolutely no evidence, however, that would contradict the physician's determination.
AK Steel said that its safety program is one of the most effective in heavy manufacturing, and routinely the company's safety record is 6 to 10 times better than the steel industry average. At Middletown Works, the current OSHA recordable injury rate is 0.41, as it was during the entire seven months when OSHA compliance officers were on-site conducting their inspection and record review.
"Safety is AK Steel's highest priority, and our record accurately reflects our unwavering commitment to workplace safety' said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel. "To the extent OSHA alleges errors in even a very small percentage of our records, we absolutely disagree and we will vigorously defend our position."