ILMA Compoundings - March 2020 - 19

or lubricant manufacturers - and the customers
they serve - workplace safety is a constant topic of
conversation. Yet unless a company commits attention
and resources to establishing an organizationwide safety
culture, safety can become something managers merely
talk about - something that's taken for granted until an
accident calls for action.
Where safety is concerned, regulatory compliance is not
enough. "It is critical to think about safety beyond mere
compliance," said Ria Scheuren, Quaker Houghton's vice
president of environmental health and safety, product
stewardship and sustainability and chair of ILMA's Safety,
Health, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs (SHERA)
Committee. "If all you're doing is compliance, you're probably not doing even the bare minimum."
There are clear and multiple benefits to going beyond the
bare minimum and truly committing to establishing and
maintaining a proactive safety culture. "Every company
needs to do the minimum required by various federal, state
and local health and safety regulations," noted John Howell,
president of GHS Resources Inc. and former SHERA chair.
"But those companies that go above and beyond that minimum are the ones likely to be exemplary in their industry."
"Having a culture of safety excellence also results in excellence in other parts of your organization," Scheuren added.
"You can't have a highly functioning organization - in
terms of profitability, delivering product in a quality manner
- if you don't have a strong safety culture."
In addition, Scheuren believes a safety culture also helps
to create a competitive edge in the marketplace. "When you
value safety and have strong safety performance, it can set
you apart from your competitors," she said. "It positively
affects how you engage with your customers, enabling you
to exceed customer expectations."
The fundamental benefit of a safety program, of course,
is that you equip employees to end the workday free of
injury. But, Scheuren added, "There are also side benefits
for employees. People want to be proud of where they work,

"The benefits of focusing on safety as
a core principle are crystal clear. Fewer
on-the-job accidents, less lost time."
John Howell, president, GHS Resources
where they want their kids to work. A strong safety culture
helps to promote and retain employees."

Elements of a Safety Culture
Most companies that hold safety as a core value share similar
attributes. "[They] will have a safety policy, a precept, that
is more than a slogan," Howell said. "It's a statement about
safety that everyone from the CEO to the shop floor will
recognize and make part of their daily life in the company."
"Unless they're very small," he continued, "most companies also will employ an environmental health and safety
(EHS) staff person to file reports and to serve as the point
person to implement the safety culture in the company.
Those functions can be done by the CEO, but often the
CEO has many other responsibilities. Having an EHS point
person is one of the first things you'll likely find among
better companies." But, he noted, "Companies with a true
safety culture avoid the trap of allowing that EHS point
person to be the only person devoted to safety. They nurture
a companywide safety commitment."
At Primrose Oil, that EHS point person is Technical
Director Matt Moore, who also serves as manager of quality

ILMA Compoundings - March 2020

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