The causes of accidents are often seemingly insignificant: Smart is on the road to zero accidents

Safety in the workplace is always a top priority at Smart Packaging Solutions. Our employees must be able to do their work effectively and safely, without the risk of accidents. That is why we are launching the Slips, Trips & Falls safety campaign, with a specific focus on preventing slips, trips and falls.

Over the past few decades, safety relating to working with large machines has improved significantly. As a result, serious accidents have – fortunately – become the exception rather than the rule. "Most of the accidents that do still occur are caused by slipping, tripping or falling", says Frans Beekman, healthcare systems coordinator at Smart Packaging Solutions Loenen. “The causes of accidents are often seemingly insignificant, for example, uneven flooring, thresholds or a raised area near or around a machine that is easy to overlook. We obviously also want to prevent accidents caused by slipping, tripping or falling, and that is the objective of our safety campaign.”

The Slips, Trips & Falls safety campaign started recently. It encourages employees to take the initiative in identifying and addressing potential hazards. They can mark dangerous areas with tape and report them via an internal reporting system. “That way, action can be taken quickly,” says Frans. “We also continue to emphasise the importance of tidiness and cleanliness. Always keep pedestrian routes unobstructed and clean, store materials away neatly and prevent leaks and spills. Complying with these rules further reduces the risk of falling, tripping and slipping.”

Safety starts with small changes. “I regularly walk an inspection round and identify where we can make improvements.” Every little bit helps to prevent accidents”, says Frans. “For example, we are currently levelling the floor in the materials preparation area near one of our machines.” Thresholds are being removed and the floor will be given a smooth finish. This reduces the risk of tripping. When we install a new machine, we make sure we get everything right from the start. For example, when installing the new Celmacch printing press at our plant in Loenen, we completely renewed the floor, levelled it and applied an anti-slip coating.”

Safety does not just involve the employees, says Frans. “We have produced an animated film for visitors to watch before they visit our plant. It clearly explains the safety rules that apply here and the areas they should keep to when moving around at the company. That’s how we keep everyone safe.”

The campaign is a first step, but safety does not stop being important after a few weeks. Flyers, posters and verbal reinforcement help employees stay alert. The Slips, Trips & Falls campaign is just one element of the broader safety strategy of the VPK Group, the parent company of Smart Packaging Solutions, as it works towards its ultimate goal of zero accidents in the workplace.