Throughout the first half of 2024, IDEX businesses have displayed an increased commitment to maintaining a safe workplace and minimizing the impact of our operations to the environment.
Our combined efforts are yielding results. At midyear, we have reduced total recordable injuries by 30%, compared to the first half of last year. IDEX teams worldwide also reduced injuries that resulted in more than a day away from work by 50% compared to the same period last year.
“Our teams should be commended for their outstanding work increasing our collective focus on safety. While these improvements are meaningful, we must continue to build the capacity of our defenses against safety hazards as we continue to reduce workplace injuries,” said Aromake Afiegbe, Senior Director of IDEX Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).
See what your fellow colleagues across the globe have applied to work towards our shared goal of workplace safety and reducing workplace incidents and injuries. While the examples below only reflect a small portion of all the hard work our employees dedicate to this effort, we hope that there are takeaways you can apply to your local teams.
IDEX Health and Science – Safety Week
Each site under our IDEX Health and Science (IH&S) umbrella participated in their first-ever “Safety Week.” Throughout this eventful week in June employees demonstrated teamwork, effective communication, and proactive participation.
Safety Week Events included:
Monday – Ergonomics. Focusing on designing and arranging workspaces to optimize efficiency and minimize strain on the body.
Tuesday – Interactive Workshop. Applying safety skills at a mock workstation.
Wednesday – Slip, Trip, and Fall Incidents. Each site developed an obstacle course where participants identified hazards and prevention ideas.
Thursday – Hand Safety. Employees were given strategies to prevent injuries.
Remote employees had several activities as well, including submitting pictures of workstations so that Environmental Health & Safety professionals could provide feedback to improve safety in their work environment. See the graphics and flyers used to engage employees here.
Each site wrapped up the week with a celebration to recognize their hard work and commitment to prioritizing safety and well-being at IDEX Health & Science.
LouwersHanique – Chemical Park
Known for their use of glass or ceramics for innovative solutions, LouwersHanique – part of Muon Group in the Netherlands – successfully implemented a new “chemical park” to enhance safety and efficiency.
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Coordinator Raphael Schmitz, and Warehouse Manager Nick Los joined forces to raise safety awareness among employees about the need for establishing a new space for the proper handling and disposal of chemical waste.
This HSE project has not only addressed significant structural issues but has also led to a new era of engagement, productivity and environmental responsibility.
IDEX India – World Environment Day & Safety Week
IDEX India celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 with visual displays, quizzes, a day of programming and gifts. Celebrated annually by the United Nations, World Environment Day encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
In addition to in-person programming, the IDEX India team also put together a guide on how to lead an environmentally conscious lifestyle. Check it out here.
Additionally, IDEX India led a Safety Week that included eight separate events that saw nearly 400 total participants.
Viking Pump – Process Improvement
Employees of the pumping solutions giant Viking Pump in Cedar Falls, Iowa (USA), recently identified a problem, proposed a solution and implemented it with the support of their leadership team.
An operator is frequently responsible for emptying
a five-gallon bucket of paint, which can lead to discomfort from having to perform it in a non-ergonomic way.
Operators came together to create a device that mechanically flips the bucket, allowing employees to maximize their time and scrape out the remaining paint at an ergonomic height.
Fluid Management – Safety Day
In honor of June’s Safety Month, Fluid Management in Wheeling, Illinois (USA), hosted a safety training day to educate, engage, and empower all employees to maintain a safe workplace. The event was made possible by their guest trainers who joined to share their expertise on maintaining safety both at work and at home.
Pulsafeeder – Leader Safety Training
Pulsafeeder’s Next Level Leaders (NLL) attended four sessions of Safety Leadership Training developed and hosted by internal leaders at their site in Punta Gorda, Florida (USA).
The goal of the experience was to drive behavioral changes and improve the way people managers think of safety at their business and their responsibility to their teams.
Airtech – EHS Program Improvements- Stormwater discharge & Safety Shoes
Based in Rutherford, New Jersey (USA), the pneumatics experts at Airtech are revamping the EHS programs applicable to their site. Among the critical programs developed and released is a new Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program for their site. It includes industry best practices to help ensure that contaminated stormwater does not enter the storm drains and pollute the environment.
Additionally, they have instituted a facility wide Safety Shoe Program which includes an area dedicated to Personal Protective Equipment awareness with a focus on safety shoes.
BAND-IT – Safety Week
Based in Denver, Colorado (USA), Band- IT held its first safety week in over 5 years in April. Activities included hands on fire extinguisher training, a “safety issues” scavenger hunt around the facility and safety trivia to reinforce their learnings.