MSCI Announces Annual Safety Innovation and Culture Improvement Award Winners

Rolling Meadows, Ill., October 10, 2025: MSCI has honored three companies — Metallus, Steel Services, Inc., and Worthington Steel — with its annual Safety Innovation and Culture Improvement awards, which recognize industrial metals mills or service centers that develop innovative approaches to drive safety improvement toward a Zero Harm, Safety Always environment.

“The people who work in the industrial metals industry are the heart and soul of the North American economy, creating the essential components that make everyday life possible,” said MSCI President and CEO M. Robert Weidner, III. “Given their enormous value and sacrifice, MSCI and its members are committed to building a Zero Harm, Safety Always culture that protects them from harm. I’m personally grateful to Worthington Steel, Steel Services, Inc., and Metallus for their commitment, ingenuity, and advocacy. Our industry, and the people who work in it, will be much better off because of the work these companies have undertaken.”

The Safety Innovation Award recognizes a single company that has implemented new tools or processes that keep workers out of harm’s way. Winners must demonstrate dramatically reduced occupational risk or exposure. The Culture Improvement Award recognizes companies that implemented a company-wide initiative to increase employee interest and engagement in worker safety or educate teams about the importance of safety.

Recipients for 2024 are:

• Safety Innovation Award: Worthington Steel. Worthington Steel considers people its greatest asset, and it leads with safety. Through its SafeWorks program and employee-led councils, Worthington advances daily toward its vision of zero injuries. In 2023, the company introduced THRIVE, an employee resource group focused on mental health and wellbeing. THRIVE creates safe spaces to learn, talk, and share resources and equips leaders and employees with tools to support one another. More than 450 employees have completed mental health training. Facilities also regularly host speakers, publish newsletters, and organize site-specific activities that reduce stigma and normalize conversation. By embedding THRIVE into daily operations, Worthington has broadened its definition of safety to include mental and emotional wellbeing, helping people thrive at work and at home.
• Safety Culture Improvement Award: Steel Services, Inc. To revitalize its safety culture and preserve institutional knowledge, Steel Services entered into a three-year partnership with OnPoint Industrial Safety Services (formerly Optimum Safety). The partnership catalyzed a number of safety improvements, including creating new safety leadership positions and adopting new technology, that radically improved the company’s safety culture and key performance indicators. Since implementation, the company’s Total Recordable Incident Rate has dropped from 12.29 in 2023 to 8.66 in 2024, and its Lost Time Incident Rate has fallen from 7.17 to 3.71. As part of the initiative, in February 2025, Steel Services established a Safety and Culture Incentive Program through which a dedicated team of employees meets monthly to share ideas and build initiatives to inspire participation in safety culture.
• Safety Culture Improvement Award: Metallus. In 2024, Metallus aligned its safety vision and strategy to reinforce a culture of accountability, enhance risk mitigation, and implement industry-leading safety practices. The primary component of the strategy was the StandUP for Safety program, a collaborative initiative proposed by United Steelworkers (USW) local union leadership that was meant to create positive energy around safety, prevent serious injuries and fatalities, and incorporate hands-on learning. As part of the program, a cross-functional team of 16 USW members and company leaders engaged more than 1,100 employees in hazard identification through interactive training stations featuring real tools, equipment, and job-related scenarios. Since implementation, near-miss reporting has increased 54% while the number of positive safety observation engagements rose 60%.

Judges considered several factors during the application process, including uniqueness of approach; whether the innovation was employee- or management-driven; evidence of employee training in sustaining benefits; and the degree to which the innovation was integrated into the whole organization through a “culture based” approach.

Awardees also met the following minimum qualifications:

• Had no recent citations from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Canada’s Ministry of Labour, or their equivalents.
• Over the last 12 months (July 21, 2024 to July 31, 2025), have not had the equivalent of an OSHA Willful Violation.
• Had no workplace fatalities within the last 18 months (January 1, 2024 to the present).

Quotations from the 2024 Safety Innovation and Culture Improvement Award Winners:

“At Worthington Steel, we believe safety goes beyond compliance — it’s about building a culture where every individual is empowered to look out for themselves and for one another. Programs like THRIVE reflect that philosophy, extending the meaning of safety to include mental and emotional wellbeing. This recognition affirms the progress our people are making every day to transform how safety is lived across our company, and I couldn’t be more proud of their commitment.” — Worthington Steel Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Klingler

“Receiving the MSCI Safety Culture Improvement Award is a powerful validation of the daily choices and collective hard work across our entire organization. Safety isn’t a destination; it’s a constant journey, and this recognition from our industry peers at MSCI confirms that our continuous improvement practices are making a real difference. There is no higher priority than ensuring our team gets home safely every day. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our formula, with the goal of fostering the growth of safety culture across our entire industry.” — Steel Services, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Josh Starke

“We are honored to be recognized for our improved safety culture, which reflects the unwavering commitment of our employees and union partners to making safety a shared value at Metallus. The success of our StandUP for Safety program demonstrates what’s possible when we empower people to take ownership of safety and create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. This recognition is a testament to the power of partnership, accountability, and to building a safer workplace for everyone.” – Metallus CEO Mike Williams

ABOUT MSCI

Founded in 1909, the Metals Service Center Institute is a nonprofit association based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., serving the industrial metals supply chain. It represents more than 250 businesses with nearly 2,500 locations in North America and around the globe. Visit www.MSCI.org for more information and follow us on Facebook and X, and connect with us on LinkedIn.