Evonik Hopewell Employees Celebrate 7 Year Safety Milestone

Employees at Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation’s Hopewell plant, which makes ingredients for a number of consumer products, have reached an extraordinary achievement: working seven years without a Lost Time Accident (LTA).

“This is a rare accomplishment that many companies strive to reach, but few achieve,” said Dr. Claus Rettig, Head of Evonik’s Consumer Specialties Business Unit. “Reaching this safety milestone proves that we are committed to safety excellence, and our employees have proven that no task is worth taking without taking the time to do it safely.”

Evonik defines a Lost Time Accident as a work-related accident or injury resulting in an employee having to take time off from work.

Safety is always Evonik’s No. 1 priority, added Dr. Reinhold Brand, President of Evonik Goldschmidt. “We take our safety program very seriously,” he continued. “I commend all employees at our Hopewell site for not simply meeting industry standards but exceeding them.”

Dr. Brand said the achievement is a testament to every employee's commitment to safety. “We stress training, education, communication, and personal accountability as part of our safety culture,” said Dr. Brand. “Safety is a core value for us. Management sets expectations and provides support but safety leadership comes from all levels. Workers, operators and front line supervisors lead many of our safety programs. We believe their engagement is a key ingredient in our success.”

Philip Munson, site manager at the Hopewell plant, said Hopewell employees should be extremely proud of their accomplishments. “It is accepted that the main potential for incidents and accidents is within the production departments,” said Munson. “About six years ago we introduced a vision for our organizational climate that focused on values such as trust, respect, open communication and accountability. This program has positively affected our culture here in Hopewell and has carried over into our safety culture with a very positive effect. We care deeply about each other and realize the importance of our well-being, not only to our families but also to the company and the community as a whole.”

Evonik places a high priority on safety because we are all a distraction away from an injury, added Russell B. Mait, Director, Environmental Health Safety & Quality for Evonik’s North America Consumer Specialties Unit.

“Over the past seven years, our Hopewell site has embraced a new approach -encouraging and motivating every employee to be more engaged in safety,” said Mait. “The keys to this new method include a site culture improvement program and leadership accountability for safety. This new methodology stresses the importance of periodic safety assessments by all employees. The emphasis on employee engagement and a commitment as a priority has positioned Hopewell as a safety leader.”

Evonik Goldschmidt’s Hopewell plant makes ingredients for hair and skin care products, laundry detergents, fabric softeners and other products.

For additional information about Evonik in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america.