Major Incidents

Tragically, there was a fatality in our operation during 2009/10.

On 27 March 2010, a contractor was fatally injured while operating on the painting line at our Phu My site in Vietnam. The contractor had been on shift for 11 days. While working on the paint line inspecting the strip, he left the secure area. He was found fatally crushed between two rolls at the Coil Paint Line (CPL) Exit accumulator inside the guarded area.

Following the fatality, a comprehensive review of the systems relating to the inspection area at the CPL Exit accumulator was undertaken.

Across all BlueScope Steel sites, safety systems were reinforced through communication sessions and a special program of safety audits led by managers and supervisors.

The audit program focused on the basics:

• How is the work being supervised?
• Who is managing this work?
• Are we following the approved Standard for this work?
• What Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is being used?
• What tools are being used?
• Are workers trained to do this work?

The results of these safety audits highlight areas where improvements are needed.