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MIDDLETOWN — "The commitment for safety from AK comes from the very top. This day serves to remind us how dedicated we need to be to make sure these people who have died at work have not died in vain."

The words spoken by Scott Rich, president of Machinists Local Lodge 1943, were reflective of the thoughts of many Middletown Works employees who gathered for the Workers' Memorial Day presentation on Monday, April 28.

AK Steel Corp. already has had one death this year at its Coshocton mill — the first at that facility, President and CEO James Wainscott said in an address last week to shareholders.

David Wentz, 38, was crushed by a steel coil as it was lowered by an overhead crane, said company spokesman Alan McCoy.

Last year, there were seven Middletown Works injuries reported to OSHA. There have been three in 2008 so far. One employee injured in 2007 and one from 2008 still are out on leave, McCoy said.

But the facility has not reported a death of an AK union worker since 2003, he added.

Although work is done daily to ensure safety, injuries are not uncommon, Rich said.

"There's been some lost work injuries within the last month or two," Rich said. "It's a real serious business. We are exposed to hazards every day."

Both the company and the union have safety rules and regulations to prevent incidents and protect employees, Rich said.

The union employs about 15 full-time safety coordinators. They are paid and trained by the company to observe a department — usually one they have worked in for several years. Rich said they answer employee concerns and make suggestions on how to improve safety.

"It's a tremendous financial commitment on the company's part, but it's paid off," Rich said. "Workers have a lot of ideas about how to make their jobs safer."

McCoy said it is well-worth the effort. Companywide, the steelmaker has cut injuries from 82 reports in 2002 to

18 last year.

"There is no priority higher than the safety of those employees at our Middletown Works plant," McCoy said. "We believe we have one of the best safety programs in the industry and our record shows that."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jlander@coxohio.com.

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