A N U P DAT E F ROM T H E H E RITAG E G RO U P SUMMER 2021
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
EXPLORE OUR S A F E T Y- F I R S T C U LT U R E F I N D O U T W H AT ’ S N E W AT H E R I TA G E R E S E A R C H G R O U P S AY H E L L O T O O U R SUMMER INTERNS
ME E T OUR COVE R MO DE L! B E TH M ANNS, a team member at Heritage Transport, is not your traditional truck driver
Heritage family, This summer, I had the privilege of hosting THG’s first-ever virtual Town Hall. We shared our focus areas for the year and introduced the Heritage Leadership Council. If you didn’t get a chance, scan the QR code on this page to watch.
My goal is for everyone to walk away from the Town Hall feeling more connected to the larger Heritage family—and our shared purpose to build a safer— more enriching, and sustainable world.
As you will hear in the video, we are focusing on business excellence, sustainability and talent. These are all long-term journeys, and a lot of foundational work has to happen before we see big-picture progress. Right now, the work is defining these focus areas because what we define well, goes well. As your leadership team, we are committed to listening and sharing our progress. Two-way communication will continue to play an important role on this journey. These priorities were informed by feedback from more than 200 leaders across THG, and we will continue to seek your insights and ideas along the way. It will take all of us to define how we win together. My goal is for everyone to walk away from the Town Hall feeling more connected to the larger Heritage family—and our shared purpose to build a safer, more enriching—and sustainable world. And speaking of a safer world… this edition of the Quarterly is a celebration of safety across THG. You are our greatest asset, and we remain as committed as ever to your health and well-being both on and off the job. Thank you for everything you do —and thank you to those who support you at home, so you can show up to work every day and give your best.
Stay safe and be well,
SCAN TO WATCH THE TOWN HALL
AMY SCHUMACHER CEO O F T H E H E R I TAG E G RO U P
Did you know skin cancer is the most common type of cancer? It affects 1 in 5 people by the age of 70 and kills more than two people in the U.S. every hour.
Summer skin safety Our focus on safety isn’t just on the job site. We want you and your family to be safe and healthy at home, which includes taking care of your skin. Warding off wrinkles and sunburn is about more than just wearing sunscreen, and we’re here to help! Here are three tips to put skin safety first this summer.
1.
PERFORM A SELF-EXAM
Early detection is key! A monthly self-exam is one of the best ways to care for your skin. Routine inspection can help you find anything that may be a concern. If you see anything unusual, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. When performing a self-exam, be sure to look for: • Growths • Moles
• Spots • Open sores
IF YOU NOTICE A SPOT OF CONCERN, NOTE IF IT HAS CHANGED:
DOES IT: • Itch • Hurt • Crust • Scab • Bleed • Struggle healing
• • • •
Size Shape Color Thickness
PRO TIP:
Take thorough notes to share with your doctor during the visit. Consider documenting with pictures to show progress.
2.
SCHEDULE A SKIN CANCER SCREENING
Another way to encourage healthy skin is to make an annual skin cancer screening appointment with a dermatologist. When preparing for a dermatologist visit: • • • •
Perform a self-exam Wear your hair loose Remove cosmetics Write down your questions PRO TIP:
Employees in Indiana and Kentucky can start the conversation about skin health at our wellness centers.
3.
DON’T FORGET THE BASICS
Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and other protective clothing can help protect your skin.
Get paid for early prevention! Getting an annual physical is a great way to stay on top of your health. Through our wellness program, benefitseligible employees and enrolled spouses or domestic partners can each earn $100 by completing a wellness physical. Just schedule your appointment, fill out our wellness form (available on myheritagegroup.com or Monument Connect) and submit it to HR Shared Services at hrss@thgrp.com. It’s that easy! T H G R P. C O M 3
PSYCHOLOG IC AL SAFET Y
Safety is more than just physical A team that values psychological safety is more productive, harmonious and innovative. Learn how to create a culture of psychological safety on your team.
Psychological Safety is a belief that no one will be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes.” Amy C. Edmonson AU T HOR & PROF E S SOR AT H A RVA R D BUSINE S S SCHOOL
Watch Amy’s 10-minute TED Talk on psychological safety.
We all experience conflict at work from time to time. When differences in opinion are fueled by strong emotions, even the closest of colleagues can experience uncomfortable —yet inevitable — conflict. By focusing on a culture of psychological safety, both leaders and employees can ensure that conflict is handled with empathy and resolved productively. Chelsea Patterson, Manager of Learning & Development at The Heritage Group, recommends the following tips to help you create a more psychologically safe team environment. ENGAGE IN HEALTHY CONFLICT.
• Get to the root of the disagreement. What’s really going on here? • Frame the work as a learning problem, not an execution problem. • Separate feelings from facts to keep the focus on what’s important. • Listen and respond with respect. Remember, you’re a teammate, not an opponent. • Apologize when you’re wrong— and mean it. • Compromise is key. Try to find a solution that satisfies everyone involved.
RECOGNIZE UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS.
• Pretending there’s no conflict. • Attempting to control others’ reactions. You can only control yourself, not others. • Engaging in personal attacks, sarcasm and manipulation. KNOW THE SIGNS OF A PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE TEAM.
• We know it’s okay to openly share our ideas and mistakes. • We give each other the benefit of the doubt. • We can separate our personal emotions from our work-based disagreements. • We practice empathy when we engage in conflict. • We can turn a conflict into an opportunity by communicating openly.
How psychologically safe is your team? A key part of building long-term relationships and mutual trust is creating an environment where each person’s voice is heard and valued without fear of judgement or punishment. Rate your team on a scale of 1-5 on the following items, with 1 being “strongly disagree” and 5 being “strongly agree.”
Members of my team can bring up problems or sensitive issues.
People on my team embrace our personal differences.
It is safe to take risks on my team.
It is easy to ask other members of my team for help.
No one on my team would deliberately act in a way that undermines my efforts.
My unique skills are valued and utilized by my team.
SCAN THE QR CODE AND CHECK OUT THE
2021 Learning & Development Course Catalog for a two-part workshop on psychological safety, plus other sessions on how to increase productivity and efficiency. To register for a workshop, ask for your manager’s approval, then visit the THG Learning Stream page. You can also visit the THG virtual resources page at thgrp.com/thg-resources/ for more icebreakers, eye-openers, and brain breaks—and contact programs@thgrp.com with any questions.
Happy learning!
If you marked four or higher for each statement, your team is doing a great job of ensuring psychological safety. If you marked a one or two for multiple statements, you may want to learn more about how your team can create psychological safety. T H G R P. C O M 5
HRG teams up with Monument Chemical on POP
What do mattresses, adhesives, and foams have in common? POP, or polymer polyol, is a compound found in a number of products, including plastics and foams used in the polyurethane industry. What may seem like a simple material is the subject of extensive collaboration happening this quarter between research scientists at Monument Chemical and Heritage Research Group (HRG). Sibel Selcuk, VP of Global R&D and Strategy at Monument Chemical, believed that POP was unique among comparable polymer products. To investigate further, she initiated a program with HRG’s analytical research team, directed by Linda Osborn. “Because Linda and I had already worked very closely, I was able to connect with her with just a call,” Sibel said. “There’s a strong sense of collaboration and connection among the technical teams [within THG’s operating companies].” Linda, who acts as a liaison between HRG and Monument, noted the organic nature of the collaborative research process across THG. “Once we obtained information from the first experiment, we could determine the next step in the process.”
Behind the science POLYURETHANE FOAM is made by
reacting a polyol with a compound known as a diisocyanate. As part of the foaming process, carbon dioxide is released in the form of bubbles. These bubbles cause the reaction mixture to rise, creating the foam structure (similar to the texture of a sponge). Injecting the foam into a mold as the reaction is happening allows it to take on a specific shape. Polyurethane elastomers can also be produced in various shapes, from roller skate wheels to truck bed liners.
Linda Osborn (LEFT) AND Sibel Selcuk (RIGHT)
As for that next step, HRG will utilize a new instrument called a scanning electron microscope (SEM), which will enable Meghan McLeod, lead researcher for this project, to dive deeper into the makeup of the products at various stages. Other POP researchers will use additional analytical techniques to help better understand the chemistry. Working hand in hand with the Monument scientists, the team will help support client-specific polyol requirements and better understand how products such as POP compare to their competition. The goal of the collaborative project is to better understand POP’s unique properties, which have the potential to dictate anything from the product’s practical applications to its marketing. With a more complex understanding of the chemistry behind their product, Sibel said, “we can continue to design better products using science. Without the collaboration with HRG, this research would not be prioritized highly within the project load of Monument. At Monument our research is applied, therefore it must move fast,” Sibel noted. “The flexibility and expertise within Heritage Research Group supports THG’s operating companies in multiple ways. HRG can conduct basic and applied research. They can innovate by converting challenges into opportunities.” POP isn’t the only project that brings HRG into collaboration with Monument. This quarter, the two have come together to further develop one of HRG’s patented capabilities for production at Baytown. The research group has also lent a fresh pair of eyes to a custom manufacturing product that came to Monument with the potential to affect developments in both national and European facilities. HRG’s enhanced capabilities and state-of-the-art laboratory are available to address other areas of need across THG’s operating companies; “We look forward to more of these collaborations,” Linda said.
A Short update In addition to new synergies with Monument Chemical, HRG has named a lab safety manager: Randall Short. The decision to have a position dedicated to lab safety was prompted by one of last year’s projects, where Randall’s aptitude for safety shone through. So far, the position has given him the opportunity to examine his colleagues’ projects through a new lens. “I’m learning a lot more about what everybody else is working on, and getting to interact with more people,” he said, “which is awesome.” As Lab Safety Manager, Randall is focusing on documenting the safety standards that HRG has followed for years. “We’ve done a great job—we’ve always had a great safety reputation and record, but let’s see if we can make it a little bit better,” he said. “Let’s see if we can dot the i’s and cross the t’s.” As HRG continues to grow, Randall hopes to “keep the projects going, while still bringing a logical safety culture.” He emphasized that knowledge, not fear, should guide the spirit of the laboratory. By being transparent and detailed about measures and protocols as early in a project as possible, he ensures that the highest standard of safety is upheld among the scientists at the Research Group.
T H G R P. C O M 7
You’re somebody’s hero Whatever you do at The Heritage Group, your safety always comes first. These true stories from real people in the Heritage Construction + Materials family show just what’s on the line every day — and how we all play a part in keeping each other safe.
My nicknames are Traffic Queen and Barrel Girl. People know that if I’m on the job, none of the barrels will be out of place. Every barrel makes a difference. When the public knows the defined route, we feel safer.”
Emily Mick Labor Foreman Milestone Contractors SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD KNOW
There are no limits to safety. Milestone really does put worker safety before profit. SAFETY POWER TOOLS
Concrete barrier walls at every job, carefully placed barrels, speed buggies with radar, partnerships with state troopers SAFETY MANTRA
A high-visibility vest is not a cape. Always play defense.
Emily’s story A CATASTROPHIC CRASH WHAT HAPPENED: Emily Mick, a 9-year Milestone veteran, joined the company at age 20 and has been learning and growing ever since. Last year, she was promoted to foreman. “The guys are like uncles and brothers to me,” said Emily. Trained by 33-year Milestone veteran Chad Ryle, Emily has developed a passion for keeping her co-workers safe. She serves on Milestone’s safety committee and makes videos to inspire drivers to slow down in work zones.
Last year, Emily experienced an incident that reinforced her commitment to safety. While the crew worked on a job at I-70 and 267 in Plainfield, Indiana, a minor crash at the far end of the job started backing up traffic. “Drivers weren’t paying attention,” Emily said. “It caused another wreck with a semi and a couple of cars.” That wreck was so catastrophic the semi driver was airlifted off the site. “It happened where the concrete crew had just been paving 20 minutes earlier — right where we had a concrete barrier wall,” Emily said. “It was timing and those barrier walls that saved our crew.” After the crash, Ed Snider, a superintendent on the job, kept the semi driver comfortable. “He ended up surviving, but it was bad,” Emily explained. “Ed couldn’t get the driver out of the semi. His circulation was cut off from his thighs down. Parts of his skull were showing.” WHAT CHANGED: “I’ve dealt with many crashes,” Emily said. “They’re usually fenderbenders. This crash was so big, with so many injuries. I’ve never had a helicopter show up at a job site. I felt terrible for the driver, but it could have been so much worse. Complacency can hurt you the most. You have to be prepared for anything.”
Emily credits Milestone’s policies with keeping workers safe. “Milestone will refuse jobs if we can’t use concrete barrier walls,” Emily said. “We don’t just do jobs to do jobs. Milestone will refuse a bid to keep us safe.”
T H G R P. C O M 9
Keith Toombs Regional Safety Director Asphalt Materials, Inc. SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD KNOW
Safety isn’t just about work. It’s about home, too. It’s a way of life. Use PPE when you use that table saw. SAFETY POWER TOOLS
Collaborative problem-solving SAFETY MANTRA
When in doubt, fill it out. Safety-related paperwork is there to protect you. It forces you to stop and think.
Crystal Hudak Regional Safety Director Asphalt Materials, Inc. WHY SHE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT SAFETY
My parents both worked in the mining industry. That’s why they named me Crystal. I grew up with a safety mindset. SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD KNOW
Safety is a lifestyle value. If you get injured doing something outside of your job, you’re still injured. So don’t wear steel-toed boots at work and flip-flops to mow the lawn. SAFETY POWER TOOLS
Collaborative problem-solving SAFETY MANTRA
If you have to think about it, it’s probably a bad idea.
Keith & Crystal’s story STOPPING TRUCK ACCIDENTS WITH CREATIVE CONTROL WHAT HAPPENED: Keith Toombs, who joined Asphalt Materials Inc. in 2018, was recently joined by a new regional manager, Crystal Hudak. The growing safety team is part of the company’s mission to ensure workers are safe, whether they’re legacy plants with established safety programs or new plants just getting started.
Ensuring safety at asphalt plants has a lot to do with “positive control,” says Crystal, who spent six years conducting rescue missions with the Coast Guard. “It’s all about making safety systems humanproof,” she said. “People have a bad day, get distracted, make mistakes. Our goal is to create a system where it’s almost impossible to screw up.” Recently, the AMI team focused on an area that needed some positive control. Picture this: An asphalt truck has a rack with stairs and a square rack on top of the truck. To get to the tank where asphalt is loaded, a loader has to open a hatch and put his hose into the hatch. “It’s dangerous,” Crystal said. “Asphalt is gunky. It’s hot and emits gas.” While a truck is being loaded, there’s always a possibility that the driver could get distracted. That’s just what happened. “There were instances where trucks had pulled away while they were still being loaded,” Keith explained. “Spouts and gangways were being torn up. In one case, a distributor was injured when a truck
pulled away. He didn’t fall off, but it tore up the muscles in his leg.” WHAT CHANGED: The accidents prompted the safety team to classify the chance of trucks pulling away as a serious safety hazard. “We challenged every plant to find a positive way to make sure trucks didn’t pull away,” Keith said. That challenge led to a list of creative solutions to keep trucks from moving. “Everyone came up with their own way,” said Keith.
“We’re trying to promote the message that safety is everybody’s responsibility,” Keith explained. With this challenge, each facility engages teams so everyone can come up with good ideas. That boots-on-theground engagement is essential. “Sometimes leaders see a problem one way, but we’re not at the plants seeing the hazards as well as they do every day. Plus, every plant is different. When we get people involved, it’s amazing how many creative solutions they come up with.” Solutions to solve the problem of truck drivers accidentally moving their trucks during loading include: A stop sign on wheels parked in front of the truck with a designated hook for keys, placing the keys out of reach on loading racks with the requirement that the driver is not in the truck and locking brakes on vehicles that must remain running during the loading process.
E D I T O R ’ S N O T E : T H I S S T O RY C O N TA I N S G R A P H I C M E N T I O N S O F W O R K P L A C E FATA L I T I E S .
Joe’s story TRAGEDY AT THE QUARRY WHAT HAPPENED: Joe Long joined US Aggregates’ Springville, Indiana, quarry in 2009 as a foreman and became plant manager in 2013. His story begins a few years earlier when he worked at a different limestone company. He hadn’t been a manager very long, and “didn’t realize how responsible a manager is,” he said. “Now I know a plant manager is responsible for more than a Supreme Court judge. Every person’s life onsite is my responsibility.”
That reality hit hard on April 22, 2006 at his former company. It was a foggy morning, and Joe was opening a pit. His daily work involved 12-foot-long blades making cuts, and workers with drills, slips and wedges using airbags to push walls over. That morning, employees let Joe and a manager at a neighboring quarry know they’d seen a dry seam up high in the limestone. A dry seam is an area, horizontal or vertical, where water has eroded in between pieces of a large rock formation, making it easier for large pieces to crack or fall.
Meanwhile, Joe was having trouble with an air compressor. He told two bottom-line drillers on the job to hang tight while he went to pick up a valve for the compressor. When Joe returned to the quarry, he noticed a load operator getting sick over the side of the pit. “You need to go down there,” the man said. “It’s bad.”
I could not be prouder to work for this company. Leaders genuinely practice safety first. That costs money, and it’s rare. Some people say it, but they do it.”
While Joe was away, two workers had been sitting on the edge of the pitl. A slab, which was about 13 feet long, 9 inches thick and 45 cubic feet, had fallen like a knife edge and landed on top of one of them. It cut the other lengthways from chest to hip. “One of the men was screaming underneath the rock,” Joe said. “We went to move the rock, and it broke and came down. It ended his life.” Joe and his team moved the rock from the other man. “We were trying to wrap him up,” he said. They put the man in a truck and took him to the hospital, because the ambulance couldn’t get to the quarry. It was a Thursday, payday, and the wife of the man who had died arrived with her young daughter to pick up her husband’s check. That’s how she learned he had died. Even worse, the body had to remain in the pit for over five hours, because the only coroner in the county was working on another case, Joe said. What happened next? Joe spent two days at a federal detention center. “I was scared to death,” he said. “They told me it could be prison time.” An investigation, including an autopsy and blood draws, showed substances in both victims’ systems. “That’s the only reason I didn’t end up incarcerated,” Joe said. That day changed Joe forever. “Seeing someone
you work with die that way is as traumatizing as losing a family member,” he said. The repercussions extended to Joe’s family, as his kids attended school with the victims’ children. “This is a small town. When I see those men’s wives or children, I know they hold me responsible,” Joe explained. “One lost his life. The other can’t even mow his own yard. I have to live with that.” In 2007, Joe gave his whole bonus check and all his savings to both families for Christmas. “In a way it made me feel better to help,” he said, “but I’ll always know I took away their heroes.” WHAT CHANGED: “Because I’d failed to listen and conduct a workplace exam, I felt (and still do) that the accident could have been avoided,” said Joe. He can’t go back and change it, but he now does everything in his power to provide employees a safe working environment. US Aggregates and The Heritage Group support that mission.
At the Springville plant, Joe’s a stickler for workplace examinations, a federal regulation stating that any miner must examine the area where they work and document it. Workers are empowered to notice, analyze, and bring things to Joe’s attention. “It could be as simple as a rock in the road,” said Joe, who looks at the paperwork every day and encourages employees to “keep him on his toes.”
Joe Long Plant Manager US Aggregates SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD KNOW
No life is replaceable. Don’t take it for granted. Take time to identify little things, because they can turn into something big. There’s no excuse for someone to be hurt or killed. SAFETY POWER TOOLS
Workplace examinations, freedom to speak up, partnership and drills with local first responders SAFETY MANTRA
Each and every one of us is a hero to somebody. Don’t take away somebody’s hero.
T H G R P. C O M 1 1
What it takes to get behind the wheel 01
CDL with vehicle inspection and driving test renewed every 4 years 02
Class A Hazmat endorsement renewed every 4 years 03
Roughly 20-30 safety training hours per year
This is absolutely my favorite job ever — not because everything’s perfect, but because we’re trying to make everything perfect, and that’s what I like.”
Trucking that delivers
Heritage Transport truck driver Beth Manns talks about what drives her Beth Manns started her workday at 3:30 a.m., but at the end of her 14-hour shift, she still walked into the breakroom with a smile on her face.
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From being a rail driver to hauling oil, Manns has 28 years of trucking experience. No job ranks as high on her list as her current role: Truck Driver for Heritage Transport. We caught up with Beth after a shift to get a glimpse of life behind the windshield.
What does the average day as a truck driver look like? We typically work 14 hours a day, including 11 hours of driving time and three hours of fluff time. My days are pretty much on par with that— a lot of it is windshield time. Some of it is loading, which can be very physical because we load hoses and we also load product through the hoses. What gets you out of bed every morning? My kids. I love to provide for them and make sure they have everything that I can give them, but I also like to set an example by being someone who shows up for work and is dependable. I want to pass that on to them. I want the next generation to know that matters. How does your job connect to the rest of THG? I’m part of a team. I’m not the biggest part, but I’m an important part. Everyone has a role to play here. I need dispatch, and I need management to help the dispatch flow easily; they need me to get out there and do my job so they’re covered too. And my customers — they really depend on me being there. We all try to work together to make it happen. What makes you most proud to work for Heritage? I’m helping clean the environment. We take care of stuff that others want to get rid of. And we’re trying to return to the earth something valuable rather than destroy it. That’s why I love working here. As far as Heritage is concerned, because of where we are in the lineup of products, we’re at the end. We’re last, but we’re first at the same time because we finish well. We do the job right.
What is a truck driver stereotype you’d like to challenge? For one, I shower every day at least twice (laughs), and another is that some of us are educated. I think that a lot of people get the impression that you become a truck driver because you didn’t have anything else to do. I went to college, and a lot of us do have an education. We’re not all just steering wheel holders. We do a hard job out here, and there’s a lot of high stress. People don’t realize that the equipment we are pulling does not just stop on a dime. What’s one value you always embrace inside and outside of your job? Honesty. I like to be an honest person, and sometimes that means saying “no” to things that I’m not capable of doing. That’s hard for me because I’m really a go-getter. At the end of the day, what we leave behind are footprints that someone else is going to follow, and if we’re way off somewhere, they’re going to be off, too.
BETH’S LINGO CDL: commercial driver’s license, for operating large, heavy or hazardous material vehicles
Dispatch: behind-the-scenes support, helping truckers
Doubles:
How does safety play a role in your career? In this job it’s particularly important. We’ve had a lot of training, so it really sticks in your mind that it’s not just to do a good job for the company, but it’s to make sure I can come back tomorrow and take care of my health and my family. If I want to go home, I need to be very prepared— go above and beyond.
certification for pulling two trailers
What would you tell anyone who is considering becoming a truck driver? Get your training and get every endorsement possible because you never know how it’s going to work for you. I have a school bus license, passenger, triples, doubles, tanker, hazmat, everything. Any training that you can take that will advance you, take it. Don’t just test the water; get in and cover yourself in it.
Windshield time:
Fluff time: work time spent not driving the truck
Tanker: used for transporting liquids or gasses
Triples: certification for pulling three trailers
time driving the truck
T H G R P. C O M 1 3
Safety standards to a science HOW MONUMENT INTEGRATES SAFETY INTO
EVERY ASPECT OF THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
At Monument Chemical, safety is a science, and they’re seeing great progress toward a safer work environment. The team is committed to safety, security and emergency response, and they’re putting in the work to prove it.
Monument finds safety… IN NUMBERS
Monument team members count on each other… literally! The team implemented a new counting method by installing an updated mass notification system with badge readers. Employees now swipe in with their badges, and an automated process keeps track of everyone. THROUGH COMMUNICATION
The Kentucky team’s new mass notification system is not only louder and clearer, but it also allows for safer and more reliable communication during emergency responses. The team is also implementing emergency transmission over employees’ handheld radios. WITH SECURITY
The Kentucky team also updated security measures by installing 15 new surveillance cameras to improve security. The system can be accessed remotely for monitoring response and evaluating incidents before team members arrive on-site. BY STORYTELLING
A recent campaign encouraged team members to share their personal stories about a prominent safety defining moment in their lives. From learning when to speak up, considering concerns from others, and always putting safety first, employees gave insight to help others understand the importance of safety.
Notable numbers
Safety story from
across the sea
The Kallo, Belgium, team recently started a manager/operator “buddy” program for site inspection tours.
“We’ve welcomed some new faces on our management team in recent history,” said Manu Gyselinck, Site Manager. “A big driver of ‘pairing’ on site tours was to allow our leaders to learn more about the many details of our different production units directly from the operations team.” Another big driver for the program related directly to the challenges of the pandemic. “Because of COVID, we haven’t had as many opportunities to connect with each other,” said Gretel Sandrap, Safety & Health Manager. “And we all know that when people are together, there are more chances to chat about ideas, including safety enhancements.”
10
BAY TOWN LO C ATI O N :
More than 10 years without a recordable injury
4+
H O US TO N A RE A LO C ATI O N S:
More than 4 years without a reportable spill
0
BAYP O RT, H O US TO N A ND BAY TOWN LO C ATI O N S:
0 process safety events since they were acquired by Monument
92%
HOUSTON LOCATION:
Kallo used this new “buddy” system for a range of inspection tours that take place throughout the week, including sampling, energy and tankfarm tours.
Reduced recordable injuries by more than 92% since becoming part of Monument
“A second set of eyes is always a good thing,” added Gretel. “We’ve taken many great actions from the tour findings, and with every improvement, we keep our team safer. And since this program has also helped bring us closer together for a very worthy use of our time, it’s definitely been a win-win for everyone involved!”
T H G R P. C O M 1 5
6Safety
Heritage Environmental Services reinforces the six principles of its 6Safety program with recognition, awards and cash prizes. These easy-to-understand principles could apply to your work environment, too:
S
S TOP UNSAFE WORK
A
A SSESS THE RISKS
F
FOLLOW PROCEDURES
E
ELIMINATE RISKS
T
TAKE S TEPS TO BE HE ALTHY
Y
YIELD THE REWARDS
Shortcuts are never worth it. If you’re doing something that could potentially injure you, you need to figure out a better plan.” ISAAC BELCHER, 10-Day Supervisor, Heritage Environmental Services, Albany, New York
Rolling the right way The story behind Isaac Belcher’s safetyaward-winning decision to do the right thing — always, even when it’s uncomfortable In every other way, it was a typical Friday afternoon. Isaac Belcher, a 10-day supervisor at Heritage Environmental Services’ facility in Albany, New York, was doing what he usually does — coordinating inbound waste deliveries and scheduling outbounds for disposal. A new chemist had joined him to learn about the process. A local field chemist arrived to drop off waste in a box truck, the same as every week. This chemist’s single-axle truck has no landing gear, so they usually manually unload the 55-gallon drums and use a drum cart to move them. On this particular Friday, the chemist hadn’t brought a drum cart — and was in a hurry. At the time, all the extra drum carts at the facility were out with other drivers. The chemist,
who Isaac considers a friend, put him in an awkward situation. “The chemist wanted to get home and was adamant about getting the drums off the truck — to make a compromise and roll them by hand.’” Isaac said no, which led to an embarrassing scene. “I had to really put my foot down in front of the new chemist,” he explained. Isaac suggested the chemist relax and wait in the office or break room until a drum cart got back to the facility. The chemist ended up waiting about 20 minutes for a drum cart to arrive. “Even if it had been an hour, rolling those drums by hand wasn’t an option,” Isaac said.
Walking the talk How leadership helps build a strong safety culture
A PROTECTIVE POLICY Why is the HES policy so thoughtful? Rolling drums is dangerous. In fact, 25% of injuries at HES are a result of people not handling containers correctly or trying to handle containers that are too heavy, according to Justin White, Technical Services Manager.
“You can roll a 100-pound drum easily, but once drums are over a certain weight, things get sketchy,” Isaac explained. That’s why the HES drum policy states that drums more than 200 pounds must be moved via mechanical means. If they’re over 500 pounds, you need a forklift. “We’re moving drums of flammable liquids, acids and caustics, and they slosh around,” Isaac explained. “They’re hard to maintain and could fall on your arm or leg.” REWARDING THE RIGHT THING Honoring the HES “safe and compliant or not at all” core value and using stop-work authority — not to mention publicly enduring an awkward conversation with a friend — earned Isaac a quarterly 6Safety Award. “It’s cool to get recognized, but I don’t feel like I need an award for doing my job,” Isaac said. “I like to think most people would have done the same thing. We need to rely on each other to keep doing the right thing.”
What happened to the driver? They’re still friends with Isaac, and they always show up with a drum cart ready to roll.
Justin White, Technical Services Manager at the Heritage Environmental Services facility in Albany, New York, supports employees like Isaac by creating an environment where safety is emphasized and reinforced through robust training and onboarding. Justin strives to make sure everyone on his team is aligned with the HES safety philosophy. “We work with hazardous chemicals. There’s already a risk,” he said. “There’s no amount of revenue worth putting our employees at any more risk than there needs to be.” It’s clear Isaac notices Justin’s support. “You hear about companies doing things to save a few dollars and speed things up,” he said. “I appreciate that our leaders say: ‘I don’t care if it’s a million-dollar customer. If it’s not safe, don’t do it.’” Justin’s approach is one reason the HES Albany facility has such a strong safety record, including eight years in a row without a lost-time or reportable incident. Embracing constructive conflict by reviewing near misses together helps in that endeavor. “If something of potential danger almost happens, we call a huddle so the team can talk about it and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Justin said. “I want everyone to take an active role in safety, even if it’s uncomfortable.” T H G R P. C O M 1 7
! R E V O E K A T N R E T IN Around THG We love seeing the smiling faces of our interns — on the job, in the office and out in the community. This summer, more than 50 interns are joining our #HeritageFamily to turn big challenges into even bigger opportunities. While each student has their own projects related to their major or interests, they all get the chance to build relationships, gain valuable skills, learn about our operating companies and have fun.
BY THE NUMBERS
53 20+ 7+ INTE RN S
MAJORS
OPERATING COMPANIES
3+ 2 STATES
14+
COUNTRIES
UNIVERSITIES
Number of interns per company AMI:
5
BIOSYNTHETIC TECHNOLOGIES:
2
HERITAGE CONSTRUCTION + MATERIALS:
4 31
HERITAGE RESEARCH GROUP: MILESTONE CONTRACTORS: THG:
8
U.S. AGGREGATES:
2
1
I’m excited to see how each of the interns grow throughout the summer. Some intern transformations are night and day—people coming out of their shell and gaining confidence, finding their passion and gaining a network of professional contacts and friends.” LEXIE SEWARD
Early Career Talent Specialist
Ebony Pippens
Nathan Fairchild
Marie Meyer
Company: THG,
Company: Milestone Contractors
Company: Heritage
People + Culture team
School: Purdue
School: Purdue
School: Marian
Major: Business
Major: Construction
Major: Chemistry
Communication
Management
Projects: I’m conducting
Projects: I’ve been working
HR research to improve the hiring and onboarding experience, which includes rewriting offer letters and creating an Adobe Sign Guide to educate my colleagues on how to use the software.
alongside Jim Smith, the surveyor for Milestone’s Lafayette area. I assist with the day-to-day surveying tasks, which has allowed me to solve new problems and take on more responsibility.
Looking forward to:
Looking forward to: I’ve
Enhancing my verbal and written communication skills and exploring my passions in the communication field.
Favorite part about THG: How welcoming everybody is. The Heritage Group feels like a big family.
enjoyed meeting a diverse group of peers and hope these connections will grow stronger as I traverse my way through the industry. I know these friendships will keep me connected as I continue my career.
Favorite part about THG: I appreciate the family mentality/culture. Growing up with parents who bet on me and gave me responsibility, I appreciate that THG instills these same values. It makes me feel very “at home” at THG.
Research Group
Projects: I’m working with Rebekah Shaw to take samples from different people at various plants. I get to analyze samples for hazardous materials.
Looking forward to: I’m hoping to come out of this summer with more knowledge and experience, and hopefully, more direction on what I want to do.
Favorite part about THG: All the people are very friendly.
We’re always looking for intern talent! Summer internship openings are posted in the fall and other internship opportunities are posted throughout the year. To apply, visit our Careers page at thgrp.com.
AT T EN T ION PA R EN T S
Engage your family in our kids’ coloring contest Do you have a budding artist at home? Our newly formed Social Impact Task Force (pictured above) a group of employees from across THG working together to leverage our collective community impact. To assist in this effort, the team is creating a THG Give Bag that all employees can use to champion community giving efforts moving forward — and we want it to be created by our #HeritageFamily!
Coloring contest details: •
Scan the QR code to download our THG coloring sheet.
•
Give it to your kid(s) and let their creativity run wild!
•
Scan an image or send a picture of your child’s masterpiece to socialimpact@thgrp.com by Monday, August 2.
I N A D D I T I O N TO H AV I N G T H EI R A R T WO R K PU B L I S H ED O N O U R BAG , O U R WI N N I N G C H I L D A R T I S T W I L L A L S O R EC EI V E A S P EC I A L P R IZE! CO N TAC T S O C I A L I M PA C T@T H G R P.CO M W I T H A N Y Q U E S T I O N S . W E C A N ’ T W A I T T O S E E W H AT YO U R K I D S C O M E U P W I T H !
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@THE-HERITAGE-GROUP