Fort Smith Plant Recognized by Arkansas Department of Labor

Gerdau’s North American special steel mill in Fort Smith received the Arkansas Department of Labor’s Million Work Hour Award on August 13 for achieving one million work hours without a lost day away from work.

ADL director Ricky Belk presented the award to Gerdau’s safety team at an awards ceremony at the company’s steel mill on Planters Road.

According to a news release, 563 Gerdau employees accumulated one million work hours without a missed day due to a work-related injury or illness between September 2012 and July 2013.

Darrel Moore, general manager of the steel mill, said safety is a mentality among employees at the plant.

“Though we have implemented a number of safety initiatives at the mill, our employees have to engage in it as well,” Moore said in a news release. “We are very proud of each and every one of our employees who helped achieve this award.”

Gerdau’s special steel North American division is headquartered in Jackson, Mich., and specializes in producing special bar quality (SBQ) steel for the automotive, commercial vehicle, agricultural and energy markets.

Its steel manufacturing plants are in Jackson and Monroe, Mich., and Fort Smith.