POSCO Eliminates Safety Blind Spots Through Facility Investments Involving Partner Companies

Introduction of a Process to Incorporate Safety Feedback from Partners in Steel Plant Equipment Investment

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] POSCO is taking the lead in establishing a safe working environment by introducing a process to listen to and reflect safety opinions from partner companies during steel mill facility investments.

POSCO announced on the 6th that it operates a three-step process to incorporate safety-related opinions from partner companies during steel mill facility investments such as replacing aging equipment and installing new facilities: ▲collecting improvement opinions ▲reflecting them in design ▲inspection.

First, when a steel mill facility investment project arises, it has been made mandatory to include safety-related improvement opinions from partner companies involved with the relevant equipment from the investment review stage. During the design phase, partner companies discuss detailed plans with POSCO’s safety, operations, and maintenance departments and agree to reflect these plans. Afterwards, partner companies can directly participate in equipment inspections to verify whether their improvement ideas have been incorporated.

Since introducing the process in April, POSCO has reflected a total of 97 improvement opinions from partner companies in steel mill facility investment projects up to recently, resolving factors that workers might perceive as unsafe.

For example, in the "Gwangyang Blast Furnace Nos. 3, 4, and 5 Blowing Equipment Replacement Project," approved in July and scheduled to start early next year, the opinions of partner companies maintaining the blowing equipment were reflected by installing hoists (devices that lift cargo using hook-shaped rings) and rails on the upper part of the equipment to conveniently move heavy items such as pumps. Using the hoist to hang heavy objects and moving them safely along the rails is expected to prevent collision accidents during transport and musculoskeletal disorders among workers.

In the "Pohang Cold Rolling Plant No. 2 Water Treatment Cooling Tower Distribution Tank Replacement Project," completed in the first half of the year, partner companies’ ideas were actively incorporated. To lower the temperature of cooling water, the distribution tank and its cover installed on top of the cooling tower were made of highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel to prevent corrosion or deformation. Additionally, the protruding handles on the cover were changed to be recessed like a manhole to reduce the risk of workers tripping.

Furthermore, the narrow maintenance space was expanded to provide sufficient working space, and additional installations such as ladders and safety ropes were planned for safe high-altitude work. Various ideas from partner companies have been reflected to build a safer working environment.

POSCO plans to continue discovering safety improvements with partner companies and reflect them in investments to ensure that all workers in the steel mill can work safely on site during facility investment projects.

Meanwhile, POSCO has been consistently conducting safety education for partner companies and established a dedicated department to support partner company safety management in February. Earlier this year, it also introduced the Safety Report System, allowing partner company employees to report unsafe work or safety threats via a mobile application.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.