ANNUAL REPORT ARCELOR 2003 - paperJam

Safety certificationsSeveral Arcelor locations around the world haveselected the issue of safety certification to complementtheir search for industrial excellence, which is achievednot only at the level of the maintenance and use of theproduction lines and the design of new processes andproducts, but also at the level of employee safety. Thiscertification approach complements the commitmentsto safety made by the Group Management Boardand the European Works Council. Examples of safetycertifications obtained in 2003 include: Eurogal (Liège,Belgium) OHSAS 18001, Juiz de Fora (Belgo Mineira,Brazil) BS 8800, Vega Do Sul (Brazil) OHSAS 18001,Etxebarri (Vizcaya, Spain) OHSAS 18001.Bilbao Health & Safety ConventionThe Health and Safety Convention held in Bilbaoon February 3 and 4, 2004 under the sponsorship ofthe European Works Council (EWC) brought togetherabout 250 people representing the employees andmanagers of the Group as well as experts of theEuropean Agency for Safety and Health at Work,suppliers and customers. This first joint meeting ledto the formulation of a series of recommendationsaimed at strengthening occupational health and safety.The future programmes adopted include:1. preparation of a Health Charter as part of the“Panhealth Policy”, modelled on the Arcelor SafetyCharter established at the time of the Arcelor merger,2. continued joint dialogue on safety, in the form of amonitoring body under the auspices of the EWC,3. continue and intensify safety training efforts for allplayers, including managers, with the support of ArcelorUniversity.Deployment of the Risk ManagementapproachIn 2002, Arcelor’s Risk Management concentrated onestablishing an initial top-down mapping of Arcelor’srisks on the basis of interviews with members of theGroup’s Management Board and with those responsiblefor cross-disciplinary functions. An additional stepwas taken in 2003 because the major risks are nowidentified both at Group level and at Business Unit level.Actions plans have been defined and implemented foreach of these levels.The themes covered were:1. prevention of occupational illness,2. prevention strategies in respect of major industrialrisks,3. safety training policies,4. the company and co-contractors: what preventionpolicies?5. implementation of the European directive on riskassessment.102ANNUAL REPORT ARCELOR 2003