[Ferro-Alloys.com]

 

ArcelorMittal, Europe's largest steelmaker, says the process to shut down the French steelworks is "well under way", with the process taking 6-8 weeks in total owing to its complexity.

 

ArcelorMittal was ordered to close the Fos-sur-Mer steelworks temporarily by the Labour Inspectorate, which found that pollution levels at the site represented a danger to the health of employees. It is unclear when, if ever, the site will be reopened.

 

The company said it is "giving priority to dialogue", while also exploring the option of appealing against the decision. Previously the company said it had a "sustained dialogue" with the Labour Inspectorate and employee representatives about the impact of pollution on its workforce and had drawn up an action plan to reduce employee exposure. A company spokesperson had also said the Labour Inspectorate's decision was "unfounded and disproportionate".

 

In response to the findings of the Labour Inspectorate, ArcelorMittal has accelerated the implementation of its action plan intended to protect the health and safety of workers. The action plan includes research into replacing rice ash, which is used in the continuous casting process and contains crystalline silica, as well as the requirement that workers exposed to dust and crystalline silica wear FFP3 masks.

 

The Fos-sur-Mer steelworks includes a hot strip mill, two blast furnaces with a capacity of 4mn t/yr, and multiple finishing lines.

 

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