Lavazza Professional
West Chester, PA
Coffee drinks production
375 employees | 1 site | 3 EHS professionals
About five years ago, Lavazza Professional took an unusual approach to improving workplace safety: The company eliminated its safety team.
“The safety team mindset can be dangerous when people feel that jobs are all separated and assign responsibility by title,” explains Jason Hall, HSE&S manager. “Everyone is responsible for the safety for themselves and others.”
Lavazza has integrated safety into its culture through careful design and consideration of its machinery, site layout, performance standards and work processes. All powered equipment requires badge access to operate. The operator must be certified to use the equipment, or it will not power up. Employees are required to complete online training and monitoring programs, workplace audits, spot evaluations and skill surveys, and participate in live Q&A. Safety is written into all employees’ development plans that are reviewed, and rewarded when appropriate, at the end of the year.
The company has developed a formal process for safety recognition, evaluation and control through a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation process coupled with a continuous improvement process. As part of that process, all fleet equipment is leased and immediately updated following changes of safety standards or regulations.
“Lavazza is a principles-based business, and our approach is designed to motivate all associates to be involved and leverage their capabilities to be used for improving the company’s responsible performance, including HSE,” Hall says. “All voices matter, are heard and are incorporated into the success of keeping our people safe and empowered.”
To encourage employees to speak up, Lavazza simplified the near-miss tracking program to eliminate the intimidation of burdensome paperwork and reporting processes.
The company is an American Heart Association Training Center and has more than 80 associates trained in first aid, CPR, AED and choking for infants, children and adults. The company also offers training to trade contractors, vendors and local fire, police and EMS groups. Lavazza has a first aid room for emergency care and a dedicated Plant Emergency Operations team that can respond to medical, fire and security emergencies.
All employees have been trained in COVID-19 safe workplace preparedness, fire extinguisher use, ergonomics and site evacuations. In addition, Lavazza trains employees for shelter drills, suspicious package and bomb threats, terrorism awareness and active aggressor/shooter.
Over-the-counter medications and self-care supplies are available in wall-mounted first aid boxes around the facility. AEDs, trauma kits and emergency radio stations are also located on the premises. Similarly, work at heights rescue go bags are set up for immediate "At Height" rescue and stabilization.—NS
