For many years safety has been and will continue to be a very important and integral part of the Metalico Annaco philosophy and operation.  Scrap metals recycling facilities world wide have always faced safety challenges simply by virtue of the inherent dangers associated with crushing, shearing, cutting and burning heavy steel, iron, aluminum, brass, stainless and all manner of ferrous and non-ferrous materials.  This type of metal processing requires the constant use of huge mobile and stationery machinery, elevated magnets weighing several tons, traveling across uneven ground, railroad vehicles and large tank tread cranes ambling about causing the ground to shake.  Not to mention semi-tractor trucks continuously moving in and out of the facility and smaller material handling vehicles scurrying about.  Nor can we forget the many powerful and fast moving conveyors with rotating parts that can be very hazardous, machines that crush, crunch, cut, and malform steel and cast iron materials.  As you might well imagine, a scrap recycling environment with all of these potential people breakers, presents a real safety challenge.  So what is a metals recycler to do?

A good number of years ago, Metalico Annaco faced the problem of safety head-on and very seriously.  Starting back in 1987, we first assembled the employees together and asked for suggestions about what needs to be done in order to make us a safer company.  A whole new safety culture was born out of those long ago meetings.  A safety committee was formed, a safety manual, specific to Metalico Annaco was created, an experienced safety and human resources manager was hired from the manufacturing sector, and we got busy.

We started a program, being certain that everyone from the President on through the organization followed the rules and safety procedures as stated in the new safety rules manual, which by-the-way was created by a team of managers and workers. Our safety policies and procedures apply to everyone who comes into our facility, including customers, vendors, outside contractors and guests.  

Strict guidelines were established and the safety rules were enforced; violations were met with penalties and not tolerated by employee or visitor.  For example, trucks will not be loaded if the driver refuses to exit his/her vehicle (properly protected with a hard hat and safety glasses) during the loading process.

Rewards are given to recognize the employees who consistently perform in a safe prescribed manner.  Every month, a free lunch is awarded to all employees in all departments that experience no accidents or injuries.  In the spring of each year, a lavish, spouse invited, grand safety recognition and awards dinner is held to recognize and honor the employees who exemplified safety throughout the year.  Nice gifts and cash prizes are raffled off and/or awarded to all employees who worked safely throughout the year.  Everyone in attendance leaves with at least one gift.

Each department holds its own monthly safety meetings where an employee is randomly selected to design, create and submit an original safety poster for his department.  The posters are displayed in a conspicuous place for all to see for the entire month competing for the best poster, who’s creator wins a valuable prize at the annual safety awards presentation dinner.

Each month at the formal Safety Committee Meeting, a safety sleuth is selected from the ranks to scour our facility along with a Safety Committee member in effort to locate, identify and list any and all observed unsafe conditions or acts. The investigation results are shared with the safety committee, passed on to all employees and appropriate personnel are assigned to correct any deficiencies.

Changing the safety culture of the company was a bit of a daunting task.  It took a long time to change the living philosophy of all who worked and visited Metalico Annaco, but we kept doggedly making progress until safety became an automatic habit instead of something one did on occasion or only when they just happened to think about it.  Safety is now second nature to us.

The fruits of our labors are spoken by our exemplary safety records.  Since the birth of our new safety culture some twenty-three years ago, The Annaco Team has experienced several long stretches (some five years or more) without a lost time accident.  We are currently into the 6th year of our latest stretch of accident or injury free days; Quite an accomplishment for a recycling facility.

At Annaco, safety really does come first, we believe it and live it every day.

Robert Toth, PHR

Human Recourses/Safety Mgr.