ABOUT THIS REPORT The information in this report is ... - Cummins

The system establishes minimum standards
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
at Cummins locations for chemical safety,
emergency preparedness, lockout and
tagout of equipment and more. A new
audit tool incorporates the latest health
and safety standards from the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and
makes it much easier for an individual site
to see what others are doing to tackle
comparable challenges.
“It’s never been so easy to share best
practices,” said Cummins’ Occupational
Health Director Kelli Smith. “I think it’s a
major advancement.”
Health and safety leaders also implemented
a detailed communications plan that took
into account the target audience and the
best tools to reach that audience. A very
informal system was replaced with a much
more thoughtful and effective approach.
“We are doing a much better job of getting
out the message that safety is everybody’s
job,” said James Dorris, Cummins’
Occupational Safety Director.
Making Safety Personal
Safety summits sponsored by Cummins
Distribution Business Unit (DBU) in Africa
and Australia over the last 12 months
didn’t include a dry recitation of injury
statistics. Nor did they involve much
in the way of training.
Instead, organizers wanted to make an
emotional connection with their audience.
“The object of these summits was
to explore and reinforce participants’
personal commitment to safety,”
said Adam Tucker, Director – Health,
Safety and the Environment for the DBU.
“This is about everyone in the Cummins
family returning safely home to their
families each night.”
The summits, which involved everyone
from leadership to the shop floor, are
part of a larger campaign at Cummins
built around the theme “Safety Begins
‘Ergo Team’ charts safer path for plant
When Health, Safety and Environment Manager
Patricia Rojas started seeing an increase in ergonomic
injuries in 2010 at Cummins’ New and Reconditioned
Parts plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, she knew
changes had to be made – and fast.
Armed with data showing half of the plant’s
recordable injuries were ergonomic related
in 2010, resulting in 108 Lost Work Days,
Some jobs have been redesigned
to promote proper posture. And more
than a few employees are performing
Health, Safety and Environment
she went to see Operations Director Aaron
Borunda, who quickly agreed.
preventive stretching. Almost everyone
has participated in some aspect of
ergonomic injury prevention.
Manager Patricia Rojas sits at
a table in the physical therapy
area at San Luis Potosí that
“When you have ergonomic injuries –
was developed as part of the
project. Employees use blocks,
sprains and strains and back problems – it The early results are promising.
tubs of lentils and other simple
can take a long time to recover,” Rojas said.
“Nobody wants that – not employees or
their managers.”
Recordable ergonomic injuries dropped
by 50 percent in 2011 and Lost Work
Days decreased from 108 to 49 days.
items to enhance exercises
designed to develop strength
and avoid injuries.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
LOOKING AHEAD
with Me.” Participants start by discussing
Working to recondition engine parts can
In 2012, health and safety officials expect to
complete the rollout of an electrical safety
plan that includes a robust tool kit and
assessments of more than 150 Cummins
or Cummins-related facilities.
how to make their workplaces safer.
The key moment comes later when they
are asked what personal commitment
they are willing to make toward the goal
of a safer workplace.
be especially tricky from an ergonomic
standpoint. Each used engine can
present unique challenges requiring
different techniques to take apart.
Rojas, who has a background in ergonomic
Officials also expect to make progress on
improving ergonomics in 2012 throughout
the Company now that the infrastructure is
in place for a significant focus on that area.
“This is a key year,” Dorris said.
“We absolutely can’t afford to become
complacent. We should all view 2011
as the beginning of our safety journey,
not the end.”
“Safety isn’t just about following the
rules, it’s about doing the right thing
when no one is watching,” Tucker said.
“To get this level of dedication to safety,
you have to make it personal.”
Tucker said the reaction has been
extremely positive. DBU is planning
similar events around the world in
2012 and beyond.
injury prevention, says the good news is
that some pretty simple steps, ranging
from stretching exercises to re-evaluating
how to do a particular job, can make a
big difference.
While she says there were plenty of raised
eyebrows at first, employees at San Luis
Potosí today are thinking about ways
they can do their jobs that reduce the
stress on their bodies.
80 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2011–2012 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2011–2012 81