Our loved ones are waiting for us.
That's why safety comes first.
At Jacobi, sustainability starts with safety. To be a sustainable company, safety must be an absolute priority and never be compromised. How do people at Jacobi view the concept of safety, and what does it mean to them personally? We asked some colleagues to answer a few questions.
1. Are there any specific safety considerations you have to take in your day-to-day work environment?
2. Why is safety important to you? In what way does Jacobi take care of the safety in your workplace?
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT JCG, OUR SITE IN PREMNITZ, GERMANY.
Sissy Frey
Safety Officer Laboratory Area
1. Safety is paramount in a laboratory, especially when working with chemicals and microbiological substances. In that regard, regulatory compliance, adhering to personal hygiene and safety standards, and emergency protocols in case of need are the highest priorities.
2. I see Jacobi's immediate and less visible actions regarding safety, e.g., our quarterly safety meetings with on-site tours or the renewal of workbenches and fume hoods that were critical in enhancing safe working practices in our laboratory.
Jens Fingerhut
Production Planner for Grinding and Impregnation
1. The main protection gear is the additional PPE that employees and contractors must wear, such as hearing protection in the grinding area or the full chemical protection suit in producing impregnated activated carbons.
2. Safety is the most important aspect of the company, as ultimately, all employees and contractors should leave their workplace healthy every day.
Ingo Altmann
Warehouse Safety Officer
1. My day-to-day work includes checking our fleet of forklift trucks and ensuring that our haulage company drivers comply with our health and safety guidelines.
2. Because we all want to stay healthy and accident-free, our latest acquisition is our automatic palletising machine. This machine greatly relieves our employees when lifting and carrying small bags.
Matthias Köhler
Safety Manager JCG
1. My role includes constant cooperation with the safety officers in the individual departments and with our company doctor, inspection tours of the departments, and drawing up special permits (e.g., working in confined spaces or hot work). I am also responsible for comparing the legal requirements of our authorities.
2. Safety is important because the health of our employees is paramount. The safety standard is improved worldwide through constant communication between all Jacobi Group safety managers.
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM A COLLEAGUE AT JES, OUR SITE IN CALATAYUD, SPAIN
Jesús Vincueria
Site Manager at our Sales Office in Spain
1. At Jacobi España, security is one of our fundamental pillars. We pay special attention when working at height since we load in tanker trucks, and during the winter, with frost, there is a risk of slipping and falling.
2. Each worker is responsible for their safety and their family. Everyone can have an accident, but we must prevent it before it occurs. Security is a way to show the quality and professional work that Jacobi wants to convey. A client who perceives that the work is being carried out safely perceives that they are working with a quality company.
“I remember visiting a family where the husband had an accident, the breadwinner for his family, now unable to work, and his wife who had to work twice or three times as much to cover their expenses. This made me think a lot about the mission of how to help people understand the importance of safety.”
NGUYEN THIEN NHAN, HSE MANAGER
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT JCV, OUR SITE IN THE BEN TRE PROVINCE, VIETNAM.
Nguyen Van Hau
Professional Worker (Boiler)
1. As a boiler worker, I must focus on the boiler’s work and comply with the boiler procedure. I must also focus on the boiler’s pressure and steam flow supplied to kilns. Otherwise, there may be an accident that could cause personal damage and also affect the factory.
2. Safety is very important to me. My family wants me to come back home from work unharmed. The company organises training courses that focus on taking care of employees’ health, such as annual health checks, X-rays for employees, and medicine cabinets for workers.
Huynh Van Nghia
Electric Maintenance Staff
1. I have to think about my relatives and pay attention to protect myself and the people around me. I work in the maintenance department, so I am always aware of keeping things neat to protect myself and those around me.
2. Safety is the most important thing to me, not only for me but also for my wife and children at home. If there is an accident, my wife and children at home will suffer.
Vo Thanh Ba
Activation Leader
1. As a team leader, I am a safety role model for colleagues. I must wear complete personal protection equipment.
2. Safety is essential to me because safety is related to many things, including myself, my loved ones, and the company. Jacobi provides training courses every two years, with a focus on hazards and near-misses reporting. By sharing accidents from other plants, we prevent similar accidents in our plants.
Nguyen Thien Nhan
HSE Manager
1. During my first days at JCV, I was impressed with the awareness and attitude of its employees. People generally voluntarily comply with safety regulations. The company's safety culture is transforming strongly from the Dependence to Interdependence stage.
2. Vietnam is years behind many other countries on safety. However, since 2015, the State has issued the Occupational Safety and Health Law, proving that safety in general and in industry in particular is essential. Safety is an inseparable element of sustainability.
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT JCB, OUR SITE IN COIMBATORE, INDIA
Uma Chandra
IMS Coordinator in the Quality Department
1. We are using hazardous chemicals, and their impact is very high. Before starting to work, I always wear appropriate PPE (goggles, gloves, and masks).
2. Safety is crucial because it protects both my family and Jacobi.
Chanpa Hansda
Operator at the Crushing Screening Plant
1. A particularly important safety equipment is the lifeline. When we are working at heights, we must use a lifeline system.
2. Safety is essential for all. We are using high-safety equipment, that is LOTO (Lockout/Tagout procedures that protect workers from harm). It helps to save our lives from accidents.
Karunakaramoorthi S
Granulation In-Charge in the Production Department
1. Before starting the work, we receive a permit from the safety department. We must ensure that all employees wear the required PPE at all times.
2. Safety is crucial because it reduces the possibility of workplace accidents. We follow this amazing system, LOTO, that Jacobi has introduced to keep us all safe.
Anto Shiyam Prakash D
Assistant Project Manager in the Project Department
1. I can see lots of effort in the factory and operations to emphasize a safe culture and working environment for our beloved co-workers. Our co-workers have good awareness of safety.
2. Educating external employees is the deciding factor in minimising their exposure to risks and hazards. They are less exposed to our safety culture than our direct Jacobi employees.
Sailajah S P
Chemist in the Quality Department
1. Since joining, there has been no safety-related issue in my workplace.
2. We are exposed to machines and various processes, which makes safety the number one priority. Jacobi makes the work safe with all the necessary safety measures.
Nagarajan M
Superjumbo Post Activation in the Production Department
1. I check that my colleagues wear our mandatory protective PPE. If they do not comply, I will insist they wear them properly.
2. If we do not work safely, my family will be affected, my coworkers' minds will be distracted, and our targets will not be achieved. If we observe any unsafe practices, management has instructed us to stop the process.
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM A COLLEAGUE AT JCI, OUR SITE IN COLUMBUS, USA
Brent Arledge
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
1. Daily observations are conducted to ensure employees are wearing the proper PPE for the task they are performing. Daily inspections on PIT equipment to ensure policies and procedures are being followed. When contractors are on site, daily observations are made to ensure they are compliant with the policies and procedures.
2. Safety is important to me because I value our employees. We want them to go home to their families in the same condition they were in when they arrived at work. Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we have an obligation to ensure their safety and well-being.
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT JML, OUR SITE IN MANISHA, SRI LANKA
Lakshan Weerasiri
QA Manager
1. Every employee's observation is crucial from a safety point of view. It helps to identify and correct the wrong activities they perform unintentionally.
2. Along with developing the Jacobi safety-first culture, I have significantly changed during my time on the factory premises and wherever I am. For example, if I do some activities in my home, now I am used to thinking two or three times before executing a particular task, as well as when I am travelling.
H.A.Nipun Bimsara
Machine Operator (CSP)
1. Safety is not just about wearing protective gear; we must think and act safely. Safety is different for each task we do, and by being careful, we make the workplace safer for me and my coworkers.
2. Safety is essential for me as a factory worker because it keeps me healthy and prevents accidents. We have a clear safety programme, safety information boards in risky areas and fire drills, especially during night shifts when the risk is higher.
Bhanu Liyanaarachchi
Engineering Executive
1. The maintenance team predominantly engages in high-risk activities. When such tasks involve hot work, it is imperative to implement additional safety measures, particularly because they involve the use of combustible materials such as charcoal and flammable liquids.
2. Our commitment to safety allows our team members to go home to their families happy at the end of the day. JML has successfully implemented the LOTO programme in our factory. We've carefully documented all lockout procedures, ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to safety in our operations.
THOUGHTS ON SAFETY FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT JCL, OUR SITE IN COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
Thusitha Sampath
Operator
1. In my department, many machines, motors, and equipment are installed and operated above my head, like crushers, screeners, hoists, bulk bags, and stairs that we have to go up and down frequently. Wearing my PPE and helmet is very important.
2. I am the one who feeds my family. Therefore, I must be safe to protect my family. The company gave us defensive driving training by hiring industry experts during Safety Month. The things I learnt in the sessions come to my mind when I drive my motorbike, such as wearing a helmet, vehicle condition, following road signs and boards correctly, etc.
Randula Ranasignhe
Maintanance Technician
1. Our role is a supporting function. We often engage in high-risk electrical work at heights. When performing such work, we wear electrical resistance safety shoes, gloves, tools, a full-body harness, and a man lifter and follow our permit-to-work system.
2. I’m young, around 30 years old, and if something happened to me, I would suffer my whole life. I have a family and parents. How could I take care of them? That's why safety is crucial for me.
