AIST Foundation Steel Intern Scholarship - Don B. Daily Safety
Aidan J. Powell
I took on a number of new projects during my third year at Finkl Steel, which allowed me to further broaden my understanding of workplace safety. Performing walkaround safety inspections in different departments was one of my primary duties. My ability to spot hazards in real time has improved as a result of these inspections.
Creating the framework for a high voltage safety program was another significant project I worked on. This involved looking into relevant OSHA standards, determining high-risk locations within the plant, consulting with team members, classifying high-voltage areas and making sure that access to these areas was restricted.
I also helped create and implement new PPE training videos for the plant team members. My primary responsibilities were filming and editing the training videos. For this project, training material had to be written, filmed, and edited to make sure it was accurate, interesting and relevant to everyday tasks. All in all, it has improved my capacity to produce training videos that are more relevant and distinctive. Because of this, the safety department and I have gradually begun to release more videos that we have produced on particularly crucial safety subjects, like crane side loading and the significance of reporting injuries.
I also spent time familiarizing myself with our plant’s medical emergency procedures. This included reviewing response protocols, understanding how to coordinate with medical professionals and walking through various emergency documents that may need to be submitted.
Lastly, I am currently laying the foundation for an arc flash safety program. I have been reviewing existing electrical safety protocols and began to identify gaps in protection and documentation. This early-stage work will serve as the foundation for a more robust program that will be created later this year.
My understanding of the need for proactive safety management has grown as a result of these projects. I am particularly appreciative of AIST and Finkl Steel for providing me the opportunities to learn. I will benefit greatly from the knowledge and abilities I have acquired during this internship when I go back to school and pursue a career in safety. These experiences have made me look forward to the opportunity to maintain my ties with both these organizations and continue my career in the steel industry.