Advantage Metals Recycling

“Since implementing the SafetySmart LMS, we have taken a complete 180 degree turn with regard to safety. Before we implemented the system, we had a pretty bad safety record and some worrying safety-related accidents. I was tasked to re-build the safety program from the ground up using SafetySmart as the centerpiece. Now we have one of the best safety records in the industry and we were just awarded the 2011 Corporate Safety Council Award – quite a turnaround indeed!”

- Serena Dehoney, Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Advantage Metal Recycling

Key Results

- Decreased yearly OSHA recordable incidents from 30 to 14

- Lost workday case decreased from 8.0 to 2.0

- Decreased cost-per-hour-worked rate

- Awarded 2011 Corporate Safety Award from the Safety Council of the Ozarks, a regional branch of the National Safety Council

Key Facts

- Industry: Manufacturing

- Leading Midwest Metal Recycler

- 15 locations in Kansas and Missouri

- SafetySmart user since 2010

Challenge

Until recently, Advantage Metals Recycling had a dismal safety record. Operating three shifts per day, seven days a week, the scrap yard’s bleak safety statistics included a lost workday case (LWC) hovering at 8.0. Difficult economic conditions, low worker moral and little commitment to safety across the board contributed to a higher rate of injuries – and a high cost associated with those incidents.

Solution

It all began to change when Serena Dehoney took over as Health & Safety Manager. “I really wanted to incorporate a system of auditing and supervisor training aimed at all levels of the organization and management,” recalls Dehoney. “I wanted to emphasize the manager’s role in safety, specific to job responsibilities. The SafetySmart system provided a comprehensive solution to achieve these goals, and it has really made the difference for us. It allowed us to get all the latest up-to-date information about changes to laws and regulations, coordinate a standard training program across all of our 15 facilities, and saved me a lot of time. The competitive price is also a definite advantage too!” adds Serena.

Results

Since implementing the SafetySmart system, Advantage Metals Recycling’s safety statistics have shown remarkable improvement. In less than a year the company slashed OSHA recordable incidents from 30 to 14. The company’s LWC rate also plummeted from a high of 8.0 to 2.0. Employee and management involvement in the safety process boosted morale, and, as a direct result, the company’s cost-per-hour-worked rate has dropped noticeably. All of these positive results culminated in the company receiving the prestigious 2011 Corporate Safety Award.

“The addition of SafetySmart to our safety program was invaluable and made all the difference. I highly recommend this to any company, big or small, looking to improve their safety record and get employees motivated about safety. We couldn’t have achieved all the safety success we have seen without SafetySmart,” says Serena.