For Release Upon Inquiry

BURNS HARBOR, Ind., January 16, 2002 - In response to media inquiries concerning Bethlehem Steel's reaction to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's report on the February 2001 fatal accident at the Burns Harbor Division, the following information is provided:

Bethlehem Steel has cooperated fully and openly with the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board in its investigation of last February's tragic accident at Burns Harbor. We have only just recently received a copy of the Board's report, so detailed comments on it are unavailable at this time. However, our initial review of the Board's report indicates that the Board's findings are both fair and accurate. We appreciate their help and expertise in responding to the incident. Furthermore, we believe that all of the Board's recommendations already have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented at Burns Harbor.

At Bethlehem Steel, safety is a core value. Our safety philosophy is simple and straightforward - any accident is one too many and we will work to prevent it in the future. We believe that safety is a shared responsibility, and every employee must be a partner in providing safe work practices and conditions. Our overall safety goal is just as simple and direct - to have "zero" injuries.

Having that common objective with the United Steelworkers of America, we have made dramatic progress toward achieving our shared goal of "zero" accidents. Any discussion of safety accomplishments is difficult in the context of a fatal accident, but we believe that the Burns Harbor safety record speaks for itself. In the last five years, Burns Harbor's lost time, OSHA recordable and total injuries have been cut in half. Plus, the year 2001 was the safest year in the 37-year operational history of the Burns Harbor Division. We are proud of this record, and we believe that the Burns Harbor Division is one of the safest steelmaking facilities in the world.

We also believe that the Division's commitment and tangible investment in safety is second to none. Burns Harbor has a significant number of full-time and part-time employees dedicated to safety, an extensive safety and environmental health training program, and an on-site medical center staffed by qualified professionals 24-hours-a-day.

The events of last February serve to remind us that, despite all of our best efforts, steel plants require a high degree of safety awareness and performance in order to prevent hazards from occurring.

We must, and will, redouble our efforts to achieve our vision of an accident-free work environment. To that end, we will continue our joint efforts with the USWA on the local and national level to foster an atmosphere in which all employees are actively involved in the day-to-day process of building the best safety environment, both on and off the job.

For More Information Contact:
Robert W. Bilheimer - (610) 694-3711
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Public Affairs Department
Bethlehem Steel Corporation

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