AK Tube Plants Recognized For Outstanding Safety Performance

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Columbus, Indiana and Walbridge, Ohio plants of AK Tube LLC, a subsidiary of AK Steel (NYSE: AKS), have each received the "Safety Award of Merit" from the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), a leading trade organization that serves the metal forming and fabricating industry. 

"Being recognized by the FMA speaks volumes about our culture of safety at AK Steel," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel.  "We congratulate the men and women of AK Tube for their outstanding safety performance, an achievement that reflects AK Steel's commitment to safety at all of our plant operations." 

With a total OSHA recordable injury rate of 0.79 for the full-year 2013, the safety performance for AK Tube in Columbus was nearly eight times better than the rolled steel shape manufacturing industry average.  The operation is now a four-time recipient of the FMA's "Safety Award of Merit," as well as a three-time prior recipient of the FMA's "Safety Award of Honor." The plant is also a certified Star site in the Indiana Department of Labor's Voluntary Protection Program.  

AK Tube in Walbridge had a total OSHA recordable injury rate of 1.91 for the full-year 2013, which was about four times better than the rolled steel shape manufacturing industry average.  The plant is now a five-time recipient of the FMA's "Safety Award of Merit."  In addition, AK Tube's plant in Walbridge is Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 certified.  The certification applies to all applicable processing and administrative functions relating to safety at the plant. 

The combined safety performance of AK Tube's Columbus and Walbridge plants was about five times better than the rolled steel shape manufacturing industry average for the full-year 2013.

The FMA safety award winners are selected by a committee sponsored by CNA Insurance Group.  Calculations are performed using data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.    

AK Steel
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets.  The company employs about 6,100 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pennsylvania; Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio.  Additional information about AK Steel is available on the company's web site at www.aksteel.com.

AK Tube LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana.  AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.  Additional information about AK Tube LLC is available on its web site at www.aktube.com.  

AK Coal Resources, Inc., another wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, produces metallurgical coal from reserves in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  AK Steel also owns 49.9% of Magnetation LLC, a joint venture headquartered in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, which produces iron ore concentrate from previously mined ore reserves.   

SOURCE AK Steel