2023 Marks 10 Years of Employee Ownership of Safety at Steel Pipe

It’s been 10 years since the Steel Pipe Tactical Safety Team was launched. Ten years of employee ownership of safety. Ten years of identifying and resolving safety issues, and 10 years of employees working together to keep one another safe. 

 “Because of the Steel Pipe Tactical Safety Team and subcommittees’ work, today employees completely understand that safety is truly in their hands,” said Steel Pipe Manager Al Schneider. “Employees have ownership in the process and the means to take corrective actions when needed.”

This employee ownership of safety has led to numerous accomplishments in Steel Pipe. Most notable are upgrading storm shelters, installing signage at rail crossings, adding crossover platforms over hard-to-reach areas at the North Processing scales, establishing and installing additional handrails, safety fencing and guarding throughout Steel Pipe production areas.

Another noteworthy accomplishment, according to Steel Pipe Assistant Manager Neil Windham, is the creation of the Break Out Team in 2022. This team introduced safety scavenger hunt-type exercises that challenged employees to think outside of the box. Windham also added how employees now have a safety-first mentality. “The attitude of employees has shifted,” Windham said. “Employees focus on safety first while getting the job done as quickly as possible."

Steel Pipe Maintenance General Foreman and SPTST Sponsor Doyle Bowden agrees. “Safety is always the top priority,” he said. “Working safely and recognizing potential safety issues is now second nature to employees. When new equipment is put in, we identify and address safety concerns at the beginning of the project. These safety successes would not have happened without management’s support at Steel Pipe and across the company.”

Steel Pipe Assistant Manager Troy Barrier said, “We have seen a significant downward trend in our incident rate since the Steel Pipe Tactical Safety Team was formed. The safety team has created a sense of employee ownership of our safety goals and has generated a heightened safety awareness in Steel Pipe.”

Eight employees currently serve on the Steel Pipe Tactical Safety Team. Resource Planning Coordinator Alan Works serves as chair and Manufacturing Engineer Robert Strong serves as co-chair. The SPTST has four active subcommittees: Training, Walking & Working Surfaces, Ergonomics and Lockout/Tag-out, and six to eight employees serve on each subcommittee. “By joining a safety team or subcommittee, employees have the opportunity to voice their concerns and take actions that improve safety for everyone,” Strong said. “Employees also learn valuable communication skills.”

Former chair of the Steel Pipe Tactical Safety Team Queen Minifield said the experience she gained while working on projects with the safety of others in mind helped prepare her for her role as training specialist. "As chair, I learned how important it is to prioritize my safety and the safety of others,” she said. “My time with the Steel Pipe Tactical Safety Team enabled me to become the person I am today.”