According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,976,400 recordable, work-related, non-fatal injuries and illnesses in the United States for 2012. Add to that number 4,383 fatal injuries and illnesses that occurred in that same year. As many of these injuries could have been avoided, it’s easy to understand why Genera Energy takes promoting safety very seriously and makes it a part of each employee’s job.
So what exactly do we do? For starters, Genera has created an Executive Safety Committee made up of representatives from each department in the company. The committee meets monthly to address concerns and discuss new ways to keep our employees safe. Departmental safety committees meet monthly as well to discuss issues directly related to their department.
Another example is that each employee is trained in safety procedures relative to his or her position upon hiring. In some instances, training must be completed before the employee can begin working on site. We train our employees to be on the lookout for unsafe practices and report them as soon as possible to their safety committee representative or supervisor. If the unsafe action appears that it may cause an immediate threat of incident or injury, they are taught to approach the person(s) involved and express concern for their safety.
One of the biggest successes in our safety program are our weekly safety audits. All employees of the company, from our CEO to our Feedstock Supply Manager to our hourly employees, are trained to perform these audits. We have three designated areas that we cross audit: the main office building, the biomass processing site, and the feedstock inventory site. By cross audit, it is meant that an office employee may team up with an employee from processing and audit the inventory site. This helps each employee familiarize themselves with our entire operation and recognize unsafe practices that they might otherwise overlook if only focused on their own area.
Genera Energy fosters a culture that embraces workplace safety and genuine concern for our fellow employees. Not only should we focus on getting the day’s work done, but as we continue to make great strides in biomass supply chain solutions, we need to do so safely. Our employees understand that they are just as responsible for their co-worker’s safety as they are their own. Mutual respect and sincere concern for one another is one of Genera Energy’s most valuable tools in promoting workplace safety.
By Lisa Osborne, HR Coordinator
