Overview
The safety of our personnel and site is our core value. This value is ingrained in our everyday conversations and day-to-day operations. It is reflected in the attitudes and behaviors of our workforce creating a strong safety culture. There are several factors that form the framework of our thriving safety culture.
Involvement
Our senior management commitment to a safe work environment and employee involvement at every level of our organization are foundational. Coworkers routinely look out for one another by identifying unsafe conditions and behaviors, and intervening to correct them. Our employees are also actively involved in safety recognition programs, safety committees, and incentive programs.
Reporting
Good relationships between management and employees encourage open and honest communication and creates an atmosphere of trust which is crucial in reporting issues, suggesting improvements, and identifying items to be addressed. Every employee is encouraged to speak up and report safety concerns and every employee knows this information will be heard and acted upon appropriately.
Just Culture
Our employees clearly understand acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and they trust that management will deal fairly with any safety-related information they report with no repercussions to the reporting party. Our workforce clearly understands there are consequences for intentional unsafe acts, but there are also encouragement and often rewards for those who work safely and bring up safety concerns.
Flexible Culture
Our site is resilient allowing us to adapt to unforeseen issues. Changes are made to minimize or eliminate hazards and safety concerns without faltering in our operations.
Learning Culture
We learn from our experiences and apply what we have learned. Continuing education programs, assessment, reporting, and information sharing among our workforce allows us to avoid complacency, draw the right conclusions, and improve our safety performance.
The benefits of our strong safety culture have directly led to low accident rates and fewer lost work days. Our site has been recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Since 2001, we have maintained the highest honor of a VPP Star status site.