2010 CEOs Who 'Get It'

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The 2010 CEOs Who “Get It” represent very diverse organizations. The industries range from industrial automation and materials production to petroleum and aerospace. Even their employee base is diverse – from 78 employees to more than 150,000. While the organizations may not look all that similar, one common thread exists – they are all world-class safety organizations with CEOs whose involvement, influence and leadership demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of their employees. And it doesn’t stop there – the CEOs also want the safety of their employees to extend to families, homes and communities.

These CEOs understand their role is to be an active and vocal leader, providing resources and encouraging engagement of all employees. Their stellar safety performance is about consistency and continual learning, improvement in safety systems and reductions in operational risk. As world-class safety leaders, they understand the value of monitoring performance data to measure results, benchmarking performance and continuing on the journey to safety excellence.

These CEOs know a critical element in a successful safety system is employee engagement, and they have created cultures that foster shared ownership and responsibility. Their actions are in the best interest of their employees. William H. Swanson, chairman and CEO of Raytheon, challenged all employees to create an injury-free workplace – making Raytheon the “safest place in the world to work.” At Raytheon, leaders are expected to engage with their employees relative to safety on a regular basis. Engagements are tracked and measured.

CEOs Who “Get It” work tirelessly to ensure all safety tasks are done to achieve safety excellence, and they take steps to ensure success. Rockwell Automation has a comprehensive internal audit program that CEO Keith Nosbusch reviews monthly to reinforce to the management team the importance of safety. These audits review safety procedures, systems and implementation, and verify compliance with all laws, company policies and procedures.

A world-class safety organization does not focus only on workplace safety. Educating employees’ families and others in the community also is a critical element. At Fiberteq, a company that provides wet-formed fiberglass materials production for the roofing industry, Plant Leader Daniel Nobbe wants not only his employees, but also their families, to be safe. That’s why his commitment to safety extends beyond the workplace. Similar to many CEOs Who “Get It,” Nobbe believes a focus on safety should not stop when the workday ends. He understands that more people are injured in their homes and communities than at work. That’s why he educates his employees and their families about safety on and off the job.

These are only a few of the many outstanding efforts of the 2010 CEOs Who “Get It.” On the following pages you will learn more about their dedication to saving lives and protecting the safety and health of their employees and their families. I congratulate this year’s CEOs on their accomplishments. It is my pleasure to recognize them as world-class safety leaders.