“Innovation and Inspiration”: The 2014 NSC Rising Stars of Safety
The National Safety Council presents the Rising Stars of Safety, Class of 2014
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Magnus Wallen 40 HSE Manager URS Corp. Jacksonville, FL |
| “Magnus had observed an increasing trend in material handling equipment breaking down, malfunctioning and not passing inspections with increasing frequency. Believing that minor repairs were no longer sufficient, Magnus initiated and led an effort to submit a capital expense request to replace some of the equipment. After compiling estimates and conducting a presentation to government stakeholders, the request was approved to replace 27 forklifts over a 24-month period. Four new pieces of equipment that eliminated operator exposure to hazards were also procured.” | |
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Catherine White 36 Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist The Dow Chemical Co. Midland, MI |
| “Cathy spent three years implementing multiple safety programs for the startup of a $132 million newly constructed five-story manufacturing process. The project celebrated over 1 million man-hours injury-free as a result of her efforts in establishing a safety culture of early reporting using leading indicators of safety performance. Cathy created a multidisciplinary plant safety team of hourly and salaried workers and led a cultural change where workers felt comfortable to stop a task and seek assistance if they felt it was unsafe. The workgroup was empowered to correct identified hazards prior to an injury occurring. Over 200 safety suggestions were entered with 90 percent resolved within two months, which was posted on their status board for tracking leading indicators.” | |
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Andrea Ziegenhagen 25 Safety Manager Tru Vue Inc. Faribault, MN |
| “Andrea created a Safety Incident Reporting Database that guides supervisors not only through the reporting process, but also ensures thorough and consistent investigations, root cause determination and the assignment of corrective actions for all safety incidents. As a result of improved incident data, communication has also improved so all shifts are able to discuss each incident, and managers are held accountable for corrective actions. The new process allows our business to continually track and identify incident trends, correct hazards, provide follow-up care to injuries, and increase awareness among our employees. A year after the process was implemented, Tru Vue celebrated one year without an OSHA recordable incident, for the first time in the company’s history.” | |
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Brian Zoeller 39 Vice President of Safety and Security Neenah Enterprises Inc. Neenah, WI |
| “Upon starting the job at Neenah Foundry, Brian found that one of the most common injuries was upper-extremity soft tissue injuries in our new hire group. Brian initiated a work hardening program for all new hires, which involved collecting injury data for three months, creating a structured stretching program and a transitional work hardening schedule. The transitional work hardening schedule was implemented in our finishing departments, which had the greatest exposure and occurrence of incidents. After implementing the work hardening program for our new hires in the finishing departments, it yielded a decrease in recordables by over 60 percent. This positive influence triggered a corporatewide stretching program.” | |
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