Prepared When It Mattered

Safety is in James Borkowski’s blood.
A volunteer fireman for 23 years, a union safety advocate, and a member of USW Local 1557 for 22 years, Borkowski has spent decades preparing for emergencies both inside and outside the mill. He holds numerous certifications in fire safety and has long been committed to protecting his coworkers — experience that would prove critical during the unthinkable.

On August 11, 2025, an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works in the Mon Valley shook the ground and sent a plume of black smoke into the Pittsburgh sky. Two Steelworkers were killed, and more than a dozen others were injured. In the chaos that followed, Borkowski stepped in without hesitation.

“I’m a first responder outside of the mill and my partner and I took over the ambulance that day,” Borkowski recalled. “We took two people — who were severely injured — and were told if we didn’t do what we did they probably would have passed away. We ended up taking 13 people to either triage or to the helicopters that day. We were knee deep in it. I can honestly say ICD helped me that day. The training and education I’ve received — I’ve taken so many classes in fire science — it really helped me that day.”

Borkowski’s commitment to safety and training runs deep. He followed his father John — a former training coordinator at USW Local 2227 who spent 43 years there -- into the mill. Long before James ever stepped onto the shop floor, the importance of preparation, education, and looking out for others had already been instilled in him.

That experience reinforced the value of the education Borkowski has been pursuing. A USW member for more than two decades, he is currently enrolled in an accelerated program at Columbia Southern University, using his tuition assistance benefit through ICD, that will lead to both a bachelor’s degree in fire administration and a master’s degree in occupational safety and health. Despite working long hours and balancing family responsibilities, Borkowski recently earned a spot on the Dean’s List. His extensive certifications through MSA (Mine Safety Appliances) allowed him to apply prior learning, knocking a year and a half off his degree path.

“When I first started at the mill they tell you about ICD and what an incredible benefit it is,” said Borkowski, now a Fall Protection Specialist and trainer. “But I didn’t really think about it because I was a boiler operator at the time I hired in. It wasn’t until I got into union safety about 11 years ago where I started thinking, ‘I’m already doing this outside as a fireman, let’s see if I can better myself with degrees where the bill is picked up through the (ICD) benefit.’”

Balancing work, family, and school hasn’t been easy. Borkowski, who works long hours, has two children and two stepchildren with his wife Lisa. Time is precious, but he has made education a priority — not just for himself, but for his future.

“This benefit is out there to help you improve your life,” Borkowski said. “I’d tell any member — take that chance, take that leap into learning something. How many other employers do something like this? You can use it for anything. Small business owners, barber school, dog grooming, doing make-up.

“There’s so many avenues that this benefit can cover. You can create your own destiny with ICD.”