Honda of SC
Timmonsville, SC
Powersports—ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and side by side units
1,286 employees | 1 site | 6 EHS professionals
Every day on the production floor at Honda of SC, each department assigns an associate to lead teams in morning stretches and review the pre-shift daily safety topic for sharing. This is only one way the powersport vehicle manufacturing plant leads safety in a collaborative manner to a world-class level.
“The information and safety programs shared is a snapshot of the passion behind an extremely strong safety culture and safety program,” Honda of SC’s application states. “The continued engagement of Honda of South Carolina’s associates for the safety program shows a strong commitment to Honda’s greatest asset, our associates.”
Voluntary participation groups called VIBEs (Voluntary Involvement for a Better Environment) drive new initiatives forward. Employees establish groups of five or six and work together to solve problems within the plant. Sometimes these groups form together to work on safety-related issues within their areas, such as ergonomic and process improvement ideas. These groups compete against each other in run-offs yearly with the entire plant invited to watch. The winners receive awards and have the chance to share their topic with other Honda companies worldwide.
Workers also are given the opportunity to join “safety committees” and “ergo committees” to help encourage participation throughout the departments. Employees also do daily pre-shift audits of their departments to look at and fix safety items. Monthly, they are asked to participate in Safety Spotlight Focus Audits. Workers audit their area and ask their co-workers safety engagement questions. If needed, safety work orders are generated to correct any unsafe findings.
In 2018, Honda of SC implemented a new key safety initiative called the ABCs of Behavioral Safety Training Program. This training is required for all production associates. The company tracks attendance and specific leading indicators. The training program includes a training evaluation/survey to include what behavior (either on or off the job) an employee can commit to change and their perception of the company’s safety culture.
“At Honda of South Carolina, safety is first and foremost, and entwined within the integral process of production,” the company’s application reads. “’There is No Production without Safety’ is the principle that our company was founded upon.”
