On Dec. 11, Compass Manufacturing celebrated an extraordinary milestone: 10 consecutive years with no recordable safety incidents. How was this record achieved? The Compass team unanimously says through personal responsibility and accountability.
“We operate with a ‘you see it, you own it’ attitude toward safety,” said David Wood, Supervisor – Shop. “With everyone on board, we all look out for one another to help ensure we all go home the way we got here.”
Leadership plays a critical role in sustaining this culture, reinforcing that safety always comes first, even above production. The team has adopted safety routines and proven tools, including:
- Morning team meetings and stretches to start each day focused on safety
- Employee-led safety committees addressing real-time issues and concerns
- 10-minute walkabouts and Job Safety Analyses (JSAs)
- Good Catch reporting to encourage open communication
- Ongoing FVCC evaluations
Compass’ shared philosophy means everyone is empowered to speak up and take action when something doesn’t look right. Just as important, there’s a clear expectation that feedback goes both ways. New employees learn early that if a coworker sees an unsafe practice, they should say something. Following this feedback, the expectation is to listen, talk it through and find the safest way forward together.
As one team member put it, it’s about keeping safety as a “forethought for everything you do.” Another framed it as “we want to retire with all our fingers, arms and the ability to hold a fishing pole!”
The biggest challenge, according to the team, is complacency. After a long stretch without incidents, it’s important to not let your guard down. The team is committed to keeping safety conversations fresh, holding one another accountable and personalizing the “why” behind safety.
Ten years without a recordable safety incident is an achievement to be proud of, and more importantly, it’s proof of a culture built on accountability and trust.
