Ball was one of the deceased honored by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 1943 during Workers Memorial Day at 4 p.m. Thursday. Each of their names were read by Lori Kakaris, a union member. David French, another union member, lit candles for each of them.
“AK Steel’s highest commitment — every day — is safety, and we have the best record in the industry. However, we never let those statistics diminish our focus on injury prevention,” according to a statement from Alan McCoy, AK Steel spokesman. “We continue our unwavering goal of reducing injuries.”
A candle also was lit for Jabin Lakes, the Middletown city employee killed May 7 during a manhole accident.
“Jabin worked for all of us as a city employee,” said Scott Rich, Local 1943 president.
Brothers Bill and Paul Corrill, both AK employees, came to remember their brother James Michael Corrill. He died Oct. 12, 1993, from being crushed at the Wilputte coke battery Bill thinks, but he never asked the details.
Bill Corrill, a Madison Twp. resident, went to work at AK Steel 15 years ago after his brother died to support his family. He recently switched from a job as an electronic technician in the boiler house to a job as a store clerk receiving and selling parts, a job he said was safer.
The IAM, which represents about 1,700 hourly workers at the Middletown Works, has marked Workers Memorial Day for 15 years. It’s April 28 to coincide with the day the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act became effective, Rich said. Dick Gilgrist, director of OSHA’s Cincinnati area office, was the ceremony’s main speaker.
“We are here today not only to mourn but also to rededicate ourselves to try to do better,” said Gilgrist.
The last AK worker to die at Middletown Works was Ralph Jones in July 2003 after his neck was crushed by a crane block that fell, Rich said. Rich said there are now 17 safety coordinators.
“We’re hoping we’re getting better at preventing injuries. The more cooperatively we work together, the better the safety program works,” Rich said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.
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