Tenaris announced today that it is funding the establishment of the Mississippi River Steel Partners Emergency Medical Services, including an ambulance and clinic located across from Tenaris’s Hickman welded pipe mill in Blytheville, Arkansas.
In collaboration with five local companies and Pafford Medical Services, the clinic will be able to provide close proximity care for employees of the partnering companies and transport patients to nearby hospitals. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Tenaris was joined by representatives from Mississippi River Steel Partners, including Wheatland Tube, Atlas Tube, JMS Russell Metals, Friedman Industries, and Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, along with local government officials.
“At Tenaris, the safety of our employees is our top priority, and this new service is our next step in that commitment,” Luca Zanotti, Tenaris President for the US, said. “The support from this partnership ensures quality onsite healthcare, staffed 24 hours a day for nearly 1,000 steel industry workers. This initiative bridges the gap in emergency response time with at least one paramedic, one EMT, and an ambulance on standby.”
Tenaris is the primary contributor for the new emergency medical services, providing $400,000 annually of the total $700,000 budget, a contribution based on the percentage of employees who can utilize the facility.
“Our goal is for this clinic to see minimal action. But its existence ensures that, in moments of crisis, emergency response times are no longer counted in potentially catastrophic minutes. They’re measured in confidence. Confidence that our teammates—the heartbeat of everything we accomplish—are supported and protected,” said Barry Zekelman, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Zekelman. Zekelman owns companies Wheatland Tube and Atlas Tube.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Congressman Rick Crawford conveyed through a letter, "By doing this, you are also helping to build a healthy, fit, and hopefully happy workforce, leading to more productivity. Illnesses and injuries can sideline productive employees, and preventative services or timely medical care will mitigate health harms from occurring or becoming worse. This makes business sense, and I hope others will take note and consider similar projects."
Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson added, "This is a great opportunity for the county; increasing medical accessibility around our industries bolsters the safety of our citizenry countywide.”
Community involvement is at the heart of Tenaris's values. Since 2010, the company has been the exclusive sponsor of the K-5th grade Academic Excellence After School Program, contributing nearly $4 million USD and supporting over 2,000 children. Additionally, Tenaris remains committed to fostering education through scholarships for Arkansas students. Since 2014, the company has awarded 392 scholarships totaling $717,500 USD.
Learn more about Tenaris's Community programs.
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