THE CULTURE OF BEING SAFE

Safety as a Lifestyle

By: Living a Stout Life

 

Safety isn’t just physical; it’s mental. It’s not just work; it’s personal. Malteurop Malting Company (MMC) takes safety very seriously at every level, both at work and at home, and they want all associates to do the same.

 

From the top down, MMC’s commitment to safety is evident within every position in the organization, at all four of their North American plants. From Milwaukee to Great Falls to Winona to Winnipeg, safety is more than just a work term, it is a lifestyle.

 

Speaking candidly with Marita Stannis, the Director of Safety and Environmental Services, and Alexander Rowntree, the Manager of Safety and Environment at the Winnipeg plant, we delved into the safety program that has become an integral part of the company.

 

 

Safety as a Lifestyle

MMC has created a culture of safety, an integrated approach to treating safety as second nature. It simply is a part of who their employees are, at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

 

“It’s not safety at work, safety at home. It’s safety as a lifestyle. Safety as a culture, “says Marita.

 

For many people at MMC, more time is spent with their work family than their actual family, so using real-life examples to talk about safety both at work and at home is a no-brainer. Safety rules are outlined at work. There are systems set in place to follow. But at home, this is not necessarily true.

 

One employee mentioned a time when he had to change a light bulb at home and used to think nothing of placing a stool on top of a stool to do so, subsequently falling off the two stools.

“I would have never done that at work.”

 

Now, though, the processes at home have become similar to work. “What would I do at work?” easily becomes second nature even when at home, thanks to MMC’s intensive hands-on safety rituals.

 

Marita goes on to say, “We don’t just care about them at work, we care about their safety at home as well. Just like we tell them we want them to go home safely every day, we want you to come to work safely every day, too.”

 

Safety is integrated into their lifestyles.

 

 

Foundations of Safety

Safety has been an integral component of MMC since its beginnings. And like any good program, it has evolved throughout the years into what it is today.  Focusing on three fundamental elements, MMC has built a strong foundation for its principles of safety to continue evolving with the needs of the company, but more importantly with the needs of the employees that make MMC what it is today.

 

The CARE Program

The CARE Program was started as a top tier program, giving the entirety of Malteurop’s employees an opportunity to be on the same page with four core principles that involve cooperation, thinking before acting, prompt responses, and eliminating hazards.

 

Life Saving Rules

These are the rules that will literally save lives. Rules that involve working at heights, utilizing the right equipment to prevent falls, not texting and driving, to name a few. These rules are in place for one specific reason, to keep people alive.

 

Leading by Example

Leading by Example is one of the newest plans implemented to hold every level of management accountable for safety throughout MMC.

 

Similar to a to-do list, the Leading by Example document lays out specific actionable items for everyone in a leadership role, giving them clarity on what is required of them on a daily and weekly basis to ensure that all MMC employees see visible commitment to safety from everyone. It’s every level of management interacting with the employees and walking the talk.

 

Safety Rituals

The Foundations of MMC’s safety programs are further broken down into safety rituals. These rituals include informal and formal safety conversations and observations along with a companywide safety day. Recognizing the joys of celebrating, especially with free food, MMC did not forget some of the most important rituals of all, rewards!

 

Safety on the Floor

Alex and the other safety managers have a goal of keeping people safe, of course, but more importantly, the goal is to build relationships with the employees on the floor. The people that are doing the work, boots on the ground.

 

With over 20 years of safety under Alex’s belt, working in pharmaceuticals to aerospace to construction and now in the malting industry, he’s seen it all. “This is one of the strongest safety cultures I’ve seen so far, from the upper management down.”

 

But he also realizes that he doesn’t know it all. And that’s where the relationship building comes into play. Taking the time to ask questions to understand why someone does what they do is the first step in understanding a process, that first step in understanding how to get that process done efficiently and safely.

 

“When I’m out on the floor, I interact. I build relationships with the people on the floor. Part of my goal is to understand their jobs. That starts conversations which leads to comfort. I’ll also get my hands dirty.  I’ll sweep, shovel, and work with them in any capacity. I get to understand the processes so when I go back and look at the best operating practices (BOP), I have a working baseline to work with, not just words. If I see there’s a difference, then I can go back and have a conversation about why there’s a possible conflict with the BOP and the actual process. They’re living it, they know it better than I do. They’re the experts in the area they are working in. Sometimes that means a tweak to the documents, instead of changing the process, the actions. That work being done makes sense. I’m not just a person sitting in an office. I’m also someone that can help out on the floor.”

 

Safety managers at MMC are working with their team and as partners.

 

Safety Conversations

From the very start of employment at MMC, safety is a big part of the conversation. These conversations can be quite informal while in passing or more focused with a presentation in mind. What matters is that they are conversations, not commands. There’s a rapport being built.

 

Formal Observations

Formal Observations are essential to any safety program, and it’s no different at MMC. The difference is how they are carried out. The formal observation process is a chance to provide positive feedback and reinforcement that is documented. It is used to further enhance the safety program, allowing everyone on and off the floor to gain a better understanding of the processes at work in both the plant and the office.

 

Safety Meetings

Safety Committee Meetings (SCM) occur at each plant on a monthly basis.  The team is made up of the safety manager, a supervisor, and members of the production staff from each area of the plant.

 

The SCM’s offer a space for team members to talk to other employees and bring up any safety issues and to work together to find a solution. If that solution requires a focused project, subcommittees are set up as needed to get projects completed. The SCM team also provides feedback on other safety related items at the plant such as new equipment or policy changes, or safety expectations for new projects. Working as a team and taking action improves communication at all levels at every plant.

 

Safety Day

Malteurop has always focused on fostering community, including safety lessons.  Bringing people together over a focused topic is one of the many ways that Malteurop employees, regardless of where they are in the world, can feel like they are all together in one well connected community.

 

Every September on one specific Thursday, the Malteurop family comes together for its annual Safety Day. While there is a common theme every year, each location around the world can adapt the theme to match their needs at that moment.

 

Plants have previously focused on fire extinguisher training, fall protection training, and utilizing the proper gear depending on the job at hand, to name just a few. Throughout the day, presentations are held, trainings are offered, and lunch is revered.

 

Safety Day is more than just a required training day; it’s a day to recognize the efforts put forth by everyone at Malteurop. A day to connect, reflect, and celebrate the safety achievements made throughout the year, across the globe.

 

Marita reflects, “Our employees think it’s really neat that one day a year we’re all doing the exact same thing. Even though it may be a different component, we’re all talking about safety at the same time on the same day, and it brings us together on that broader scope of the company as a whole. We’re really proud of this.”

 

Rewards and Recognitions

Malteurop should be proud of what they have accomplished. Each and every individual puts forth their best effort to achieve a safe work environment. Not only are they applauded for these efforts, they are recognized for them. Employees have received elaborate lunches, jackets, mugs, hats, and more.  And these items don’t just get tossed aside. They are worn and worn proudly.

 

And MMC doesn’t stop there. They recently implemented a randomly generated reward system through the Human Resources Department.  If eligible based off of certain safety goals, employees could win a variety of gift certificates or even a trip to Florida. While associates do their best because it’s a part of their job, rewards offer that extra incentive to go that extra mile. Instead of scoffing at the need for recognition and rewards, MMC recognizes that simple human fact.

 

And while fancy rewards are highly valued, simply saying thank you still goes a long way!

 

Safety Program Improvements

Ensuring that safety is second nature takes time and effort from every employee. It’s not the words on paper that make a program run effectively, it’s the people. It’s the acceptance of the trainings, the observations, the dialogues, the documentations, and the expectations from every employee. It’s not simply signing a paper stating that the policies were read; it’s embracing safety as a culture. And Malteurop recognizes that culture needs to be nurtured to keep it thriving.

 

With projects constantly evolving and being created to make Malteurop the best it can be, the safety program needs to ebb and flow along with the projects.  And at MMC, it does just that.

 

It’s the people that create the culture of a workplace. Therefore, it should also be the people, all of the people that continually help to improve the safety program.  With MMC’s safety foundations and rituals, this improvement is evident often throughout the entire company.

 

Individual Plant Safety Highlights

Each of Malteurop’s four North American plants deserve to be recognized for their considerable efforts when it comes to creating a safe work environment for every individual. Their innate abilities to predict possible safety issues before they occur are unparalleled.

 

From years without any lost time accidents (LTA) to building catwalks and installing fall arrest systems, the entire safety team and all employees should be commended for going above and beyond what is needed to create a safe work environment that inevitably transfers into the home as well.

 

Great Falls, Montana

Celebrating eight years without a lost time accident (LTA), the Great Falls plant in Montana has set a precedent like no other. With not one employee missing an entire day of work due to an accident for eight years and counting is a feat that deserves great recognition.

 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee has abided by stringent protocols over the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic with allowing employees to work from home. Milwaukee has also had a great start to 2021 with zero lost time accidents.

 

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Meanwhile in Winnipeg, Manitoba, MMC associates are celebrating over two years without an LTA. Recognizing that this distinction comes from continual assessments of processes.

 

Winona, Minnesota

Continuing the trend with Winnipeg, the Winona, Minnesota, plant is also celebrating over two years without an LTA. And just as all the other plants understand the importance of safety, Winona is no different.

 

Safety is a Never Ending Story

Marita, Alex, and the entire safety team across the company at Malteurop agree that safety is a culture. And that culture is always growing and evolving. It’s a never ending story, not static. It has to adapt to the changing goals of a company and its associates.

 

There will always be challenges to mitigate, but as long as everyone on the team plays an active role in safety as a culture and a lifestyle, it will never have to be as controversial as politics.

 

The theme of Malteurop has always been based on building a team and creating a community.  This community is based on safety.  Safety as a way to get a job done with pride and accomplishment, but also safety as a comfortable place to work and converse. 

 

Knowing that you are a valued person contributes greatly to a workplace. It builds trust in everyone encountered across the board, at work and at home. Safety is no different. Gretchen Jones, MMC’s Marketing Specialist, recognizes this from a safety perspective.

 

“I was trained to use a fire extinguisher at work, and it makes me feel really comfortable at home. I would have never known how to use it if we had a fire at our house. I would have freaked out. That training, I took it home with me, and I feel confident that I can use it.”

 

Safety never stops. It’s a lifestyle. Nobody says it better than Marita, “We care about our people deeply. At the end of the day, it’s about the people.”

 

Care Principles

Principle #1: We are responsible for our safety and the safety of our colleagues.

Principle #2: Management is both responsible and accountable for safety.

Principle #3: As managers, we encourage a culture of dialogue and continuous improvement.

Principle #4: We take time to observe, audit, and discuss safety.

Principle #5: Workable safety standards and rules are set and employees are qualified against them.

Principle #6: Management warrants that all employees contribute to rigorous risk assessment and that risks with high potential consequences are dealt with promptly.

Principle #7: All incidents can be prevented. We believe that, with the right efforts, a safe path can always be found.

Principle #8: We report all injuries and near misses (because we see them as a chance to prevent serious incidents).

Principle #9: We don’t accept reoccurrence of incidents by reporting them, investigating them up to root causes, and correcting deficiencies.

 

Life Saving Rules

1. I never go under a suspended load.
2. I never work on an electrical installation if I am not qualified and authorized to do so.
3. I never enter a confined space if I am not authorized to do so.
4. I never work at heights if I am not authorized to do so.
5. I never operate a machine or equipment without ensuring it is safe to do so.
6. I always wear a seatbelt and ensure others are using theirs – in the front and rear of vehicles, in any vehicles on the road or in the plant.
7. I never enter into an Explosive Area or perform hot work in it, if I am not qualified and authorized to do so.
8. I never surf the net, type or read a SMS (text) or an e-mail when I am driving.

 

Malteurop North America’s Safety Team

Gustavo Strasser, General Manager of Malteurop North America

Marita Stannis, Director of Safety and Environmental Services – North America

Alexander Rowntree, Manager of Safety and Environment – Winnipeg

Shelly Siron, Manager of Safety and Environment – Great Falls

Kevin Cyert, Manager of Safety and Environment – Milwaukee and Winona

 

We celebrate the entire Malteurop North America team for their commitment to safety! Cheers!