Recognizing that safety transcends mere compliance, West Pharmaceutical Services (West) has embedded it into the core of its corporate values, ensuring that every team member, from the boardroom to the production floor, is an active participant in creating a hazard-free workplace. Their efforts have won them the Safety award in the Behavioral Safety subcategory in the 2024 Pharmaceutical Excellence Awards.
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West won the award for successfully implementing a proactive, behavior-based safety culture, driven by innovative programs and a shared responsibility ethos that permeates every level of the organization. Its strategic shift towards prevention, empowerment of safety champions, and focused improvement initiatives have collectively contributed to its outstanding safety performance and industry-leading standards.
Cultivating a culture of proactive safety
Leading with prevention
West’s innovative approach to safety begins with a shift in mindset from reactive to proactive measures. The SEE-DO-SAY program is a cornerstone of this strategy, requiring team members to remain vigilant for potential hazards (SEE), take immediate action to mitigate risks (DO), and report the hazard to management or health, safety and environment (HSE) representatives (SAY). The program has not only increased hazard awareness but has also fostered a sense of ownership among team members over their work environment. In 2023, the program’s effectiveness was evident in the more than 35,000 SEE-DO-SAY observations reported by West team members, demonstrating a high level of engagement and proactive behavior that significantly contributes to workplace safety.
Empowering safety champions
The Embedded Safety Organizations initiative at West goes beyond traditional safety roles by identifying and empowering Safety Champions into every department. These champions, who come from various non-HSE backgrounds, are pivotal in maintaining a high level of safety awareness and accountability among their peers. They play a crucial role in reinforcing the safety-first culture by leading by example and encouraging their colleagues to adhere to safety protocols. The public commitment to safety, as demonstrated by the Safety Charter and signing ceremonies, has created a visible and tangible reminder of the collective responsibility to maintain a safe working environment, further embedding safety into the daily operations at West.
Focused improvement and accountability
West’s commitment to safety is also evident in their rigorous auditing processes, which include HSE Excellence Audits, HSE Maturity Audits, and Focused Improvement Audits that serve as a mechanism for continuous improvement. The company’s dedication to closing HSE-CAPA in a timely manner indicates its commitment to not just identifying potential hazards but also swiftly addressing them. This dedication to improvement is further exemplified by the annual global Safety Week, which focuses on key safety topics and promotes individual accountability, ensuring that safety remains a priority throughout the year.
Driving results through behavioral safety
The tangible outcomes of West’s safety initiatives are a testament to the effectiveness of their proactive and behavior-based approach. The significant decrease in both serious incident rate (SIR) and recordable incident rate (RIR) is a result of the company’s relentless pursuit of a zero-harm environment.
In addition, the comprehensive training provided to the certified powered industrial truck (PIT) operators, which led to a remarkable decrease in reported PIT incidents, highlights the importance of continuous education and reinforcement of safety practices.
West’s recognition with the Safety award is, thus, a testament to their holistic approach to team member wellbeing and operational excellence.
“Team Member safety is not a choice – we feel it is a fundamental commitment that safeguards the wellbeing of our people. Our proactive focus on hazard identification, our See.Do.Say. Something mindset, and our Embedded Safety Organizations and engaged team members all help to build a strong culture of safety at West, which decrease the probability of accidents by anticipating and preventing incidents before they can occur, helping to achieve our ultimate goal of all team members going home safely at the end of their day.” – Steve Walton, VP, HSE, West Pharmaceutical Services
Company Profile
West is a leading provider of innovative, high-quality injectable solutions and services. As a trusted partner to established and emerging drug developers, West helps ensure the safe, effective containment and delivery of lifesaving and life-enhancing medicines for patients. The company is guided by its core values of Passion for Customers, Leadership in Quality and One West team and these values underpin our purpose to improve patient’s lives.
With more than a century of experience, West works together with its customers to support patient health and fuel a brighter future with product innovation. West works by the side of customers from concept to patient to develop products that promote the efficiency, reliability and safety of the world’s pharmaceutical drug supply. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, generic and medical device companies trust West and its ability to deliver consistent high-quality and technologically advanced containment and delivery solutions. West shares their commitment to improving health for patients worldwide.
Contact Details
Website: https://www.westpharma.com
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