Steel Dynamics, Gerdau, Nucor and North Star awarded by SMA

he Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) has announced its annual awards for 2018, recognizing the safety, environmental stewardship and community involvement efforts of the Electric Furnace (EF) steel industry.

SMA’s highest award is the Don B. Daily Achievement in Safety.  This year, the award was presented to Thomas “Ike” Isaac of Steel Dynamics, Inc (SDI). Jeff Hansen, Vice President of Safety and HR at SDI commented:  “At Steel Dynamics, safety isn’t just a concept, it is our #1 core value. Ike travels across operating locations to conduct high energy meetings, which promote employee engagement in overall safety. Ike’s efforts motivate and inspire our employees to make safety their top ‘personal’ core value.  His passion for safety comes through in his messaging and truly supports our values.”

This year’s Achievement in Environmental Stewardship and Recycling Award was presented to the team at Gerdau in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. On accepting the award, Chis Evans, Vice President and General Manager of the Rancho Cucamonga Mill said: “The Rancho Cucamonga Bag House Project represents a monumental achievement making the mill one of the cleanest in the world with the lowest particulate and metals emissions rates in the U.S. Gerdau’s multi-year; multi-million dollar investment represents an impressive commitment and dedication to the safe and sustainable production of Green Steel.”

SMA recognized two companies for the Achievement in Community Involvement Award. North Star BlueScope Steel was selected for their bi-annual water celebration. During this event, North Star BlueScope brings together the surrounding community to relay the importance of science and the environment by focusing on waste water treatment and preserving wetlands and watershed. This event shows North Star BlueScope Steel’s commitment to improving community through environmental compliance and reducing their environmental footprint.

Nucor Steel Kankakee was selected for Achievement in Community Involvement for their significant and numerous contributions to their community. In 2018, Nucor Steel Kankakee partnered with the City of Bourbonnais and Riverside Healthcare to sponsor and participate in the 1st Annual ‘Tox Drop’. Nucor teammates and volunteers, unloaded over 400 cars and responsibly recycled over 20 tons of household hazardous waste. In addition to this success, Nucor Kankakee hosts various events in the community to raise funds in support of “Relay for Life”. Since 2017, they have raised over $135,000 for this important cause.

In announcing the awards, SMA President, Philip K. Bell said, “It is a privilege to recognize individuals and companies who exemplify strong safety cultures, best in class environmental stewardship and impactful community involvement. We congratulate this year’s award recipients for their extraordinary commitment to define 21st century steelmaking.”

Soruce: SteelNet, Photo: fotoalia