b'Creating a Safe SpaceA look at how to make a safe working environment.Jim TimlickENSURING ALL NECESSARY ings around all elevated workstations. In addition, the company safety policies and procedures are inhas harness protocols so that employees can strap themselves place makes sense for any seed com- to the side of a bin when they need to climb to check storage pany, especially when it comes to thelevels or examine the integrity of a bin. Its also installed an on-processing side of an operation.site laundry facility where treatment contaminated clothing can It can also mean dollars and cents ifbe washed rather than taken home to be cleaned.done properly, says Greg Stamp, salesStamp says its important for seed companies to continu-and marketing manager for Stamp Seeds,ally look for new and better ways of maintaining a safe work a Canadian seed grower and retailerenvironment for employees. Stamp Seeds is installing a new based in Enchant, Alberta. While therewinch system that lifts indent cylinders out of large-scale seed is typically an up-front cost associatedseparators. The company is looking to install non-slip flooring to with most safety measures, such actionsKathryn Herrold ismitigate risk factors such as snow and ice in the winter or loose can ultimately result in a cost savings, hethe global seedsseed on the floor during spring and summer.explains. and traitsWhile installing the right equipment can make a huge difference Having a safety culture and talkingenvironment, healthin terms of making a facility safe, Stamp says its just as important about it with staff leads pretty quicklyand safety (EHS)to encourage employees to use that equipment correctly. to operational efficiencies and how youmanager for BASFPeople want to do things efficiently and fast and well, but we do things well as the next step, StampAg Solutions. emphasize to people that its okay if we take a little longer and says. You have your two-way discussionmake sure its done right, he says. Thats the most important about safety, but then all of a sudden itthing. We want people to do it right, do it well and do it safely so leads into those operational things wherethat theyll still be working here in 20 years.staff bring up ideas that will make thingsAll new Stamp Seeds employees have to take part in man-better, faster and safer. datory safety training which includes a series of safety videos Seed World recently spoke with threeposted online. Follow-up training is provided to longer-term North American seed companies aboutemployees at regular intervals. Employees are also encouraged the safety processes they employ at theirto come forward with any safety concerns they may have as part plants, standard operating proceduresof a two-way dialogue with managers at the companys plant.(SOPs) they have instituted to makeIt all comes down to communication about the things theyre for a safer work environment, how theyseeing and their concerns, Stamp says. We want them to tell us encourage employee buy-in when itDrew Dubois is(if there are concerns) so then the pressures on us to fix the prob-comes to safety and what tips they havevice-president oflem and make it better for them. If theres an issue, its not good for other seed retailers. Heres what theyoperations forenough to just listen to it or write it down. You have to take action.had to say. AgReliant Genetics. Stamp says its important for seed companies, especially small to medium-sized businesses, to realize that safety isnt Communication is Key just an issue for rank and file employees. He stresses that senior Safety was one of the primary considera- management needs to model the right safety behavior when tions when Stamp Seeds was designingthey are working in the field or on the floor to encourage others its seed processing facility in Enchant.to do likewise.Thats partially why it was designedHe also recommends smaller companies consider appointing horizontally rather than vertically withone person to lead any safety initiatives they want to institute conveyor belts in place of tall legs onrather than spreading the responsibility among multiple staff, most of the equipment in the plant. It haswhich can lead to confusion about who to approach when there also installed height appropriate rail- is a safety concern.12/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2021'