DARLINGTON – Freshly grilled steaks. That’s how Nucor Steel celebrated its employees’ hard work and commitment to safety and excellence during a luncheon on Wednesday. Alvin Broach, who has been retired from the plant for two years, still comes back to cook the steaks, and he says he doesn’t mind one bit. The people at the plant are like family.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Nucor,” said Rep. Gresham Barrett. “It’s Nucor’s people they’re celebrating today. If you don’t have a dedicated workforce, then you don’t have this kind of success.”
Other state and local officials present for the ceremony were Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington, Sen. Lee Bright of Spartanburg, Sen. Ted Vick of Chesterfield, Rep. Jay Lucas of Darlington, city council members Gloria Hines and John Segars, Andy Locklair, Sheriff Wayne Byrd, Coroner Todd Hardee and Mel Pennington, among others.
The achievement is significant in a number of ways, according to Mike Gurley, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel and Nucor Cold Finish. Nucor Darlington is the first steel manufacturing company in South Carolina to achieve this recognition. Additionally, two divisions qualified for the program.
“Commitment to safety does not always show up on the bottom line of a business,” said Gurley.
The voluntary program recognizes companies that exceed Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. To qualify, the total incident rate must be below the state average for each of the last three years.
“Each of the divisions were one-third below the national average four out of the last five years,” said Gurley.
This achievement is not the end for Nucor, according to Gurley. The company continues to pursue a zero-injury rate motivated in large part by their families. That motivation was on display at the event in the form of a giant two-story collage of employees’ family members emblazoned with the SHARP logo that will remain up at the facility.
“Do it safely or not at all.” Those words from corporate headquarters mean something at Nucor Darlington.
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