National Safety Month Contest Winners!
Last month employees and their families colored Safety sheets, created Safety slogans and told us what “Safety Means to Them” – Congratulations to our winners!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2025 National Safety Month Contests!
Safety Friends Coloring Contest
We received 131 coloring sheets from Action Stainless, Berlin Metals, Integrity Stainless, Metal-Fab and Olympic Steel locations. It was difficult to choose just 12 winners, but after much deliberation, congratulations to the following kiddos who submitted their entry through the employee listed. Each of the Coloring Contest winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Morgan - Dwayne Donathan: Olympic Steel, Mount Sterling, KY
Tucker - Charles Donathan: Olympic Steel, Mount Sterling, KY
Tessa - Jason Zielinski: Olympic Steel, Corporate
Scarlett - Francisco Marceleno: Olympic Steel, Bettendorf, IA
Mylie - Dwayne Donathan: Olympic Steel, Mount Sterling, KY
Makynlie - Dwayne Donathan: Olympic Steel, Mount Sterling, KY
Lucas - Dwayne Donathan: Olympic Steel, Mount Sterling, KY
Grayson - Josh Bentley: Olympic Steel, Winder, GA
Arabella - Hallie Forrai: Olympic Steel, Cleveland, OH
Annabelle - Kelly Pilkenroth: Olympic Steel, Cleveland, OH
Alivia - Michael Hernandez: Metal-Fab, Wichita, KS
Saphira - Joey Calbillo: Action Stainless, Houston, TX
What Does Safety Mean to You?
Seventy employees from across the Company, representing Action Stainless, Berlin Metals, Central Tube & Bar, Integrity Stainless, Metal-Fab, Olympic Steel and Shaw Stainless shared what Safety means to them - and, we are inspired!
As we reflect on these sentiments, our CEO, Rick Marabito, shares his personal thoughts on what Safety means to him:
An Olympic Steel where…
- Every team member is laser-focused and accountable for participating in Safety – every time.
- We never have to notify a family member or coworker that their loved-one or friend was injured at work.
- Every team member is comfortable speaking to colleagues about Safety and risks and is willing to stop an unsafe or high-risk act.
- When asked, “What is most important at Olympic Steel?” every team member answers decisively “keeping each other safe!”.
- Every leader asks, “What can I do to make my division, operation or department safer?”.
- Every leader is admired as a role model for Safety.
While we’ve identified nine winners, all participants gave thought to this question; thank you all for sharing your responses. We’ll find ways to share other insightful answers throughout the year on social media and in recurring communications.
Congratulations to the winners, three for each job category (Administration, Sales and Warehouse). Each of them will receive a $50 credit to their
AwardCo account.
ADMINISTRATION
- Machelle Valle, OSI – Bettendorf, IA: Safety means that we hold ourselves and each other accountable to be safe – no matter the person, situation, or facility. Always.
- Jasmin Jimenez, OSI – Minneapolis Coil: For me, safety starts long before I walk through the doors at work. It begins with how I take care of myself: getting enough sleep, eating well, and showing up with a clear mind. When I don’t do those things, I notice my focus slips, and that’s when mistakes can happen. I’ve come to believe that when things go wrong, it’s often because we’re rushing. We feel the pressure of time, and in trying to save a few minutes, we risk so much more. That’s why I remind myself: life is better for the people around me because I’m in it, and that means I have a responsibility to do things the right way, not the fast way. Sure, safety helps the company look good. But more importantly, it’s about people. It’s about making it home in one piece and helping the person next to me do the same. At the end of the day, nothing is more valuable than that.
- Matt Krinke, OSI – Minneapolis, Coil: Safety means a collective group effort to assess hazards and risks and minimize the potential for danger.
SALES
- Amber Schnecke, OSI – Schaumburg, IL: Recognize everything around you, and noticing if there may be any hazards or unsafe environment to allow myself to reflect, think and react. This will not only help myself, but other coworkers around in the same situation or future situations.
- Jamie Embree, OSI – Winder, GA: Safety - every moment of every day! You should ALWAYS be thinking about safety - whether you are at home cooking, skipping down the stairs, etc. or at work. You want to go home to your family with the same anatomy you went to work with. To me there is nothing more important than safety, always be on the lookout not only ourselves but for others. As a OSR you might not think our job could not be dangerous, but we regularly step into manufacturing facilities (most not as kept as OSI) – we need to be extra aware to unexpected dangers, moving forklifts, overhead chains, cables across the ground, plates not stacked properly just to name a few. Safety to me is every moment of every day, be safe out there.
- Scott Gapinske, OSI – Winder, GA: Safety is the fundamental function that allows all other activities to continue. The safety of employees is the first concern when instituting any new process. Without concern for the health and safety of all employees and visitors, it risks the viability of the entire operation.
WAREHOUSE
- Bruce Clark, Jr., Metal-Fab – Wichita, KS: Safety is a mindset, a focus on avoiding unnecessary risk and taking proper caution with necessary risks.
- Adrian Rodriguez, OSI – Schaumburg, IL: Actively identifying risks, taking preventive actions, and caring for the well-being of yourself and others.
- Jeremy McCreary, OSI – Schaumburg, IL: Safety is an abstract concept to me. It's an ideology that imposes guidelines to be sure we safeguard the wellbeing of each employee and others around them. Safety is a key component that can and should be applied to all aspects of everyday life. Safety is coming and going the same way you arrived - all 10 fingers, all 10 toes accounted for. Safety is being able to see your loved ones every night. Safety is more than a concept, if used correctly - it's a way of life.
One More Way to Win
If you missed these two contests, there is still one more way to win during National Safety Month – the Team Challenge! During the month of June, if all employees attend a Safety training (meaning you’ve reached 100% participation in offered Safety trainings), your location will receive a special lunch in July (for all shifts). See your Safety contact for the June Safety training schedule.
Safety First. Always. And, it starts with me.
