Last week, we were pleased to announce Milliken & Company was included on the 2017 America’s Safest Companies list, presented by EHS Today. As a three-time honoree, we were also the first company to be named to the America’s Safest Companies Hall of Fame.

It could be easy to get caught up in the recognition of a job well done – indeed, an honor like America’s Safest Companies is something to be proud of – but more importantly, the award helps us focus on the why.

• Why do we value safety as a company?
• Why do we invest resources, talent, time, and more to be a 'Safest Company?'
• Why does it matter?

These three questions are answered simply: we do it because of our associates.

Safety is a part of every thing we do every day. Whether it is recognizing a job well done at our manufacturing facilities to earning and maintaining significant safety accreditations, like OSHA VPP Star certification, safety is an integral part of our culture. It plays a major role in how we approach manufacturing, and it is one of the most important elements of our company. We emphasize safety because we care about our associates.

When we are able to protect our associates, we accomplish more than bodily protection. Using safety as a building block, we foster a high-performing, sustainable manufacturing operating system. In this environment, associates are able to focus on their job, because the worry of getting hurt is diminished.

We care for the well-being of our associates, and by extension, we are able to care for the families of our associates. Families can rest assured in their loved ones’ safety while on the job, building trust within our communities. Everyone benefits from a dedication to safety.

It is this unwavering emphasis on safety that has led to Milliken achieving one of the lowest total incident and injury rates of North American manufacturers. In addition to our own certification efforts, we also mentor and audit other companies to achieve OSHA VPP status. In fact, more than 15 Milliken associates are OSHA trained and certified SGEs.

Championed by the very highest level of leadership decades ago, Milliken’s safety protocols and policies have been in effect long before it was a major push within the industry. The combined years of learning, experience, and emphasis allows us to not only protect Milliken associates, but also assist other organizations as they look to enhance their safety efforts through our consulting team Performance Solutions by Milliken.

As we strive to build the safest possible environment for our associates, we know we will continue to learn, to grow, and to improve. Safety will always invite new collaborations and learning in order to constantly evolve for the good of our associates.