ArcelorMittal to invest additional funds in production safety in 2024

This year, PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is investing additional funds in accident prevention and four key risk management programs. Mauro Longobardo, CEO of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, announced this during a strategic session with the company’s executives, according to Metallurg newspaper.

The main efforts will be focused on ensuring the integrity of assets (the condition of high-risk workplaces and equipment, such as cranes, conveyors, heavy trucks, electrical installations, etc.), engineering solutions to eliminate or reduce the main “killer” risks, and controlling hazardous energy sources by introducing blocking/marking tools.

«Along with the allocation of additional funds to improve the safety of equipment and production processes, a priority for us is to implement a zero-tolerance policy for gross violations of the Ten Golden Rules of Safety among both our own staff and contractors,» added Mauro Longobardo.

According to Zhanbek Esmakhanov, Director of Health, Safety and Environment, the plant will focus on changing employee behavior to be safer, risk control system, safety built into the production process, and development of leadership behavior in health and safety issues.

«In particular, in 2024, a number of communication campaigns and trainings for shop floor managers will be implemented to strengthen communication and leadership skills in the field of occupational health and safety,» he said.

The strategic session, which was also attended by ArcelorMittal Vice President Vijay Goyal and HSE Director Robin Palmier, took place on the eve of the restart of a number of facilities, which will help the steelmaker reach 50% of its pre-war capacity this year. In April, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih will launch blast furnace No. 6, coke oven batteries No. 3-4, blooming and small section mill No. 2.

The discussion participants also worked on improving action plans in crisis situations (lack of electricity or water supply, ensuring the sustainability of the production process in the face of shelling of infrastructure by the Russian aggressor).

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih plans to maximize the utilization of its mining division this year and launch the steel division with two blast furnaces in April 2024, thanks to improved maritime logistics.

As GMK Center reported earlier, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih increased steel production by 23% y/y – to 76 thousand tons in January 2024. Rolled steel production increased by 26% m/m – to 72 kt, pig iron – by 10% m/m, to 149 kt, iron ore concentrate – by 41% m/m, to 552 kt, and coke – by 9% m/m, to 85 kt.