Sapphire, platinum, silver...

At Performance Materials, the safety and health of all employees is paramount—this is non-negotiable. Even more, safety concerns everyone. Outstanding achievements in the field of occupational safety are honored with an Evonik Safety Award. This year, three Performance Intermediates plants received safety awards for longstanding successful safety practices:

• Sapphire Evonik Safety Award for the butadiene plant in Marl for more than 20 years without a lost-time incident
• Platinum Evonik Safety Award for the plasticizer plant in Marl for 15 years without a lost-time incident
• Silver Evonik Safety Award for the H2/syngas plant in Marl for more than seven years without a lost-time incident

“Occupational safety is repeatedly addressed and awareness raised through a wide range of activities and company campaigns. The Safety at Evonik cultural initiative has further sharpened people’s awareness of safety and promoted open dialog on issues relating to safety,” said Andreas Beckmann, head of Production and Safety Supervisor at Performance Intermediates. “For example, the quarterly meetings of PI safety officers have evolved from frontal information events into lively round tables of committed and motivated safety officers.”

For many years, not only have accidents at work been systematically recorded and discussed and measures developed, but close calls with high potential for injury have also been dealt with in a similar manner. All unsafe conditions and actions are recorded transparently for all employees in company tables and prompt steps are taken to rectify these. Discussion of the close calls also takes place continuously on a cross-site basis. “Each incident is one too many!” added Martin Harrmann, head of Production and Technology at Performance Intermediates. “It takes a lot of work to create a safe, accident-free work environment every day and is a great achievement for everyone. It is impossible to maintain such a high standard of occupational safety unless the whole team pulls together,” Harrmann continued.

Last but not least, the high safety standard is maintained and continuously improved through safety inspections, also performed with the cooperation of safety officers, safety supervisors, safety specialists, and company physicians.

“The Evonik Safety Award is a milestone on the road to ‘zero incidents’ and is intended to encourage everyone to continue to accord safety top priority and prevent accidents through circumspect behavior”, said Dr. Thomas Berg, Corporate ESHQ.