Protecting Our People, the Community and the Environment
Deacero is strongly committed for creating a safe and healthy environment for our employees to as well as eliminating the impact of our manufacturing processes on the natural environment.
Our steel mills and wire manufacturing plants are fully compliant with Mexicans laws with respect to health and safety and in meeting SEMARNAT* and US EPA environmental standards and guidelines.
In fact, SEMARNAT and other Mexican governmental agencies constantly monitor our activities to ensure compliance, which we welcome and encourage. *SEMARNAT: Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources - Mexico’s equivalent to the EPA) Also, as a Mexican company, Deacero is subject to NAFTA terms (The North American Free Trade Agreement) which stipulates that companies are not to reduce their environmental standards as a means of promoting investment in business.
Protecting the Health, Safety and Welfare of Our Employees
Deacero is steadfast in our devotion to the health, safety and welfare of our 7,200 employees. Deacero makes every effort to create a healthy environment for our workers, ensuring that air and water quality are high and contaminants are as low as possible.
All plant employees are required to complete web-based e-learning training programs(1) to make sure they understand every aspect of their tasks and so reduce the risk of accident.
In addition, all plants have a dedicated safety officer.
The automation of many Deacero manufacturing processes has contributed greatly to safety by letting machinery handle dangerous tasks, and our employees are very competitive when it comes to out-doing each other in meeting safety goals.
As a result, Deacero has not had a serious accident in any plant in over 15 years. Founded on principles of social responsibility, Deacero is attentive to the welfare of our employees, providing competitive wages and financial support for continuing education and home ownership.
Also, through the Deacero Foundation, Deacero funds the building of churches, community medical programs and various social agencies.
Protecting and Nurturing a Green Environment
Since inception, Deacero has practiced recycling. Deacero has always manufactured products from 100% recycled steel(2) collected from all over the world, including Russia, the Middle East and South America. In this way, a potential pollutant is removed from the environment. Recycling Practices 85% less waste than other steel plants in Mexico In addition to the scrap steel, Deacero also practices aggressive recycling of materials used in the manufacturing process, including:
- Zinc (used in galvanization)
- Water (from processing and sewage)
- Lubricants (which are processed)
- Wood and cartons
- Slag (recycled for construction)
- Any additional scrap produced in the manufacturing and fabrication process
Water Usage and Treatment 90% Recycled Deacero industrial grade treatment plants filter water for recycling in the production process as well as for use in plant restrooms, gardens an cooling systems.
In addition, Deacero, in cooperation with the SEMARNAT, constantly monitors waste water quality to meet standards. Any water released into the municipal sewage system is tested prior to release and treated if necessary.
Energy Efficiency 75% less energy used than other steel plants in Mexico Prearranged blackouts with the government save us electrical energy and force us to be more energy efficient. Also, there are programs in place calling upon employees for ideas on how to save on energy both in and outside the plants.
Some of our best solutions have come from Deacero employees. Clean Air 85% less emissions than other steel plants in Mexico Stack emissions are kept extremely low, meeting SEMARNAT and US EPA clean air standards.
For worker safety and health, dust is collected in the fabrication plant and painting is done in clean rooms.
Moving Forward
In 2007, Deacero signed an agreement with SEMARNAT and CANACERO** (The Mexican Iron and Steel Producers Association), whereby Deacero will voluntarily manage the collection of any high-volume residuals from the plants of CANACERO members. These residuals include potential pollutants such as industrial and process waste.
Deacero will recycle or dispose of the residuals collected in environmentally friendly ways. It is estimated that approximately 60% of the residuals will be recycled and 40% will be become landfill. Any hazardous materials, which could reach 1% of the residuals collected, will be disposed in strict compliance with SEMARNAT rules and regulations.
Currently, about 63 of Mexico’s largest iron and steel producers are members of CANACERO.
**CANACERO: Cámara Nacional de la Industria del Hierro y del Acero At Deacero, progress and improvement never stop.
We are continuously looking for ways to reduce waste and minimize our impact on the environment.
For example, we have made good progress in our efforts to replace chemical products with biodegradable equivalents and we are upgrading our acid neutralizer technology to reduce smoke stack emissions even more. In the future, the Deacero will continue to be an important part of our business practices as we strive to sustain a safe, healthy, and green environment in which our people and the community can work, live and prosper.
