I was among the 15 lucky ArcelorMittal colleagues who participated last week in a workshop on Yoga, Pranayam and Meditation techniques in our corporate offices in Luxembourg.

Before joining, I could guess what yoga and meditation were about, but the word ‘pranayam’ was a mystery to me. Now I know it consists of breathing exercises… which made me discover parts of my lungs I think I never knew existed before!

Our trainer was Pramod Jain, a colleague based in India who often comes to the corporate office for business. And when the working day finishes (after 6pm)… the very special yoga training begins! A long day for Pramod, but it’s worth it: “I do it because of the joy I feel inside myself when I practice yoga: I want to share it with as many people as possible.” And share he does!

At the end of the week, most of the participants could already notice some of the benefits of yoga, pranayam and meditation: some said they had lost weight; others had less pain in the back and most of us felt physically and mentally fitter. And everyone smiled!

Not surprising, considering that we heard the following mantra at least once a day for an entire week, as part of the instructions to yoga practitioners: “Put a smile on your face. If you can’t make it, then you have to fake it, but you must always have it.”

Because as Pramod says: “If you keep on smiling, problems will come and leave again. Problems don’t stay with people who smile.”

Our Group has launched a new Health and Safety initiative: ArcelorMittal Health Week, aiming to promote healthy habits among employees. A more than proper initiative for an amateur sportsman like me; as I’m writing these lines, I’ve just arrived at my office after my fitness session in the gym…

The Communications team in Spain has been helping our Medical Services for the last few weeks to organize the first Health Week in many sites of our country. Health Fairs, chats and other activities are on the agenda for next week, but one activity gives me a special thrill: the ’1st ArcelorMittal Asturias Race for Health’, to take place on November 20, circling one of the reservoirs owned by the company in a privileged landscape, and addressed to our employees.

I’ve been firmly supporting this idea because I know by experience that a healthy life is the best we can do for ourselves. When I go in for any kind of sport, I feel much better, have a break to think calmly and load my batteries for the next day. The day I don’t, I really miss it and feel tired.  Definitely, wellness is something I want for my life.

Many organizational details are yet to be arranged regarding this race. But I’m clear about one thing: on Saturday 20, I will be on the start line with my trainers on!

Author: Alberto Carrero de Roa, Head of Internal Communications, Spain

“My name is Katya Vivcharyk. I’m in the 3rd grade in the 103 school. I am part of the ‘Yunost’ dance team and I really like it. We make a lot of performances and take part in different contests. My parents both work at ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih, in Ukraine. My father recently brought home an ArcelorMittal magazine where I read about a contest the company organised around the theme of Health and Safety…

I have never taken part in such contests, perhaps because I was too young until now. But only recently my parents had told me a lot about health and Safety and given me a set of examples on safe conduct outdoors, especially when crossing the roads.

One day I was at my father’s workplace and saw a lot of colourful posters. I remembered the following words: ‘We’re not as strong as our products’. Then my father explained the meaning of these words to me. My father and I also read the brochure entitled ‘10 Golden Rules of Industrial Safety’.

So, just after reading the news about the new drawing competition, I asked my mother for permission to take part in the contest and I started my drawing and handed it in. When my mother told me that I ranked among the first, I was happy. My parents and I went to a very important meeting.

I met Mr. Jean Jouet, CEO of ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih, who congratulated me and offered me a gift. During that event, I saw many other beautiful children drawings and I decided I would follow the safety rules and I’d take part in all contests which ArcelorMittal holds.

And I would like to tell all adults to observe safety rules at workplaces, because their lives and their health depend on it. I would like to remind all the parents that we wait for them every day at home…”

Collaboration: Liliya Lazarenko and Oksana Chikalo, ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih

April 28, 2010. Very early in the morning. Our plants and offices worldwide are finalising preparations for Health and Safety Day, one of the most important dates in the Group’s calendar. So is ArcelorMittal Differdange, in Luxembourg, especially as they are expecting a special visitor…

9.15am. Top management of the site, union representatives and journalists wait for Chairman and CEO Mr Mittal at the site’s administrative building. Phone call: “we will be there in 2 minutes.” The plant CEO welcomes Mr Mittal and, after a short presentation about the site, the visit starts.

9.40am. At the Centre de Formation, dozens of Differdange colleagues are participating in workshops on fire-fighting, shared vigilance, the golden rules of traffic in a steel plant (if you ever drive through Differdange, remember to respect the stops you find every 10 metres!), healthy food and hygiene… In the middle of the session, Mr Mittal enters the room. After a few moments of smiles and greetings, the workshop continues normally. As all sessions are in French, Mr Mittal welcomes the translations of the plant CEO.

10.45am. Time to visit the facilities where the steel which was used to build the Atomium in Brussels and the future Freedom Tower in New York was produced. Continuous caster, rolling mill… Mr Mittal seizes the opportunity to ask plenty of questions and share his views with the people in charge of each facility. “One can see that he is very interested in the technical aspects,” says a line manager.

12.15am. The Chairman and CEO leaves the plant under a bright sun. Just before, there’s still time for a short video interview for ArcelorMittal employees. The key message? Health and Safety Day should be every day of our lives…

Not another crisis, but a potential threat to employees and therefore business, the possibility of a H1N1 outbreak at ArcelorMittal sites has been the subject of a complex and comprehensive Group-wide prevention plan. So how does a global company prepare for H1N1?

While many colleagues were on holiday, particularly in the northern hemisphere, a working group was set up to prepare for their return and the possibility of confirmed cases of H1N1. For our colleagues in the southern hemisphere, however, where the onset of the virus occurred earlier, the need was more urgent. The purpose of ArcelorMittal’s prevention plan was synchronisation and consistency on a global level.

With the evolution of the virus unknown, actions were prepared to assure business continuity and inform employees on preventative measures. All sites were given a checklist of no less than 120 points in order to assess their material needs, readiness and problem areas. Business Continuity Plans provided for the potential shutdown of sites and transfer of production. All of this, through weekly conference calls and updates with health specialists from the 4 corners of the world.

Although none of our sites have faced closure or massive outbreak, colleagues are asked to remain vigilant to avoid the potential health and economic repercussions on our Group.

ArcelorMittal Senegal recently opened 2 health centres in the villages of Bofeto and Noumoufoukha. Attending the opening ceremony were the Prefect of Saraya and the town’s medical team, the Sub-Prefect of Bembou, the village chiefs, local media, ArcelorMittal representatives, as well as local residents.

Both health centres have been entirely equipped by ArcelorMittal Senegal and the ArcelorMittal Foundation. Each centre contains a consultation room, delivery room, hospitalisation room and restroom, powered by solar panels. Their construction was undertaken last year as part of an agreement with the Government of Senegal. Before these centres existed, villagers had to take pregnant women and other emergency cases by bicycle, 80 km to Saraya. The new centres are set to benefit more than 600 local citizens, and eventually other populations migrating from Guinea.

An agreement was also signed between the Saraya Medical District and ArcelorMittal to ensure the training of qualified nurses and midwifes, who will be in charge of the health centres. A village committee will be put in place, with the support of the medical team from Saraya, in order to collect revenue from the centres and ensure they are self-sustainable.

At the end of the inauguration, locals and public leaders presented ArcelorMittal with a sheep and a cock to show their gratitude. This was a great honour for ArcelorMittal, pleased to offer its continued commitment to enriching the local communities in Senegal.

Author: Oumhany Sy

Like most locations this year, the organising team at Vanderbijlpark Works for Health and Safety Day 2009 was told not to spend any money. “And wow, did our people rise to the challenge!” says Hendie Grobbelaar, ArcelorMittal South Africa. “I could not believe my eyes when the different plants presented their activities, in technicolor, sound and animation.”

“For example, the guys at Engineering will be using a 5 kilometre per hour moving train through the Works to showcase their exhibition on various safety and health issues,” Hendie tells us. “This train will also transport some of the employees and contractors to the site where they will have a (healthy) picnic and play (health and safety related) games.”

Vanderbijlpark Works will be on their feet on the day with a Fun Walk and Relay followed by speeches, prize giving and awards for safety related achievements such as Best Contractor, Best Superintendent and Best Safety Representative.

“A sure highlight will be a combined rescue demonstration by our Protection Services and the local Town Council Rescue Services. This event will take place from the roof of our administration building and will involve our own employees as fire survivors being rescued.

Best of all, our special catchy song, written in 2008, will form the backdrop of the day. As we say in South Africa – our arrangements for H&S Day are going “sharp sharp”!

Prepare yourself for Health and Safety Day by learning the song South Africa created

Leading the Journey is the theme of our 2009 Health and Safety Day. This year the day will be held on April 28, to coincide with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) World Day for Safety and Health at Work. As the date fast approaches, preparations get underway for one of the most important dates in the ArcelorMittal calendar.

Health and Safety Day offers an occasion to involve all staff in discussing safety and health improvements, new targets and associated safety and health programmes at Group as well as plant level. Health and Safety remains our top priority.

Safe Sustainable Steel

The day is a call to action to all employees to become leaders in our Journey to Zero injuries and illnesses. The theme calls on us all to Lead by Example (last year’s theme) and commit to our Health and Safety improvement process: Journey to Zero.

The 2009 Day will place more emphasis on health and the sharing of best practices within the Group-wide Health network. For this, there is an important role to be played at every level of the Company. And this year, the responsibility for local Health and Safety Day events will rest more on local Health and Safety teams.

In the coming month, we look forward to sharing a few local Health and Safety Day stories from the ground.

Safety is not something you can do once in a while, it’s what you do day in and day out that makes a difference. For safety is not a destination. It is a way of life.

Your example, the thing you do day in and day out, is a main contributor in influencing others. In fact, it may be the only thing.

I just facilitated a Health and Safety meeting that commenced with this question: ‘Health and Safety… What is it worth to you?’ A question everyone should ponder. During the meeting, I used the Return-of-Experience (REX) system to alert attendees of experiences which have already occurred. I am always saddened to hear of accidents. They have such ripple effects. We hear terms associated with accidents like ’Temporary Medical Treatment’, ‘Semi-Permanent Lost Time Injury’ and ‘Fatality’ or ‘Multiple Fatalities’. The progression in terms also relays the progression in devastation to the employees, their families, their friends and their colleagues.

We teach not to be discouraged by a failure. It is very difficult to hold this position with respect to Health and Safety. The failure must lead us to success. The discovery of what failed leads us to seek intently after errors or omissions, so that in future we shall carefully avoid them.

“An accident is not just one of those things. Accidents are predictable and preventable events. And they don’t have to happen.”

The Group Management Board has requested everyone to reflect. Think about accidents, talk to others about them and learn from them. Taking the lessons learned and applying them will make a difference. We can then utilize prevention to assist in our work execution.

We can be successful and we can transform tomorrow!

Author: Tony Newport, ArcelorMittal Dofasco

Just before Christmas, during the night shift of December 19 2008, one of our colleagues from Le Creusot rolling mill in France, suffered a mild heart attack. Thanks to the defibrillators set up across the site and the prompt reaction of his workmates, he was able to go back to his family and celebrate a happy and safe Christmas.

Safety comes first in each and every one of our sites across the ArcelorMittal world – and Le Creusot is no exception! With the objective to ensure employees’ Health and Safety in the workplace, the site set up 7 defibrillators across the plant – 5 in the Creusot area and 2 in the Breuil area. In December, one of those defibrillators enabled the Le Creusot team to rescue their ailing colleague. Here again, teamwork was key!

“We are only as good as our weakest link and the success of such interventions depends on the overall performance of all the elements involved,” says Alain Mulot, Safety Engineer at Le Creusot. “All went remarkably well that night and we managed to work perfectly together as a team.”

Similar incidents have been reported at ArcelorMittal Imphy (France), Dunkerque (France) and Bremen (Germany), and there might be many more. By implementing defibrillators and training its employees, ArcelorMittal is advancing on its Journey towards Zero accidents across the Group.

In the meantime, every life saved is a success to be celebrated. Cheers to everyone involved!

Collaboration: Ginette De Matteis, Corporate Internal Communications