When Paul O’Neill became CEO of Alcoa in 1987, he famously told investors that his top priority would be plant safety. Despite being hired to tackle declining profits and stock value, he chose to focus on worker safety instead.
While skeptics questioned his decision, one year later, Alcoa’s profits reached record highs.
A few months ago, CITEC’s staff came together for a rebranding discussion and did an exercise where each of us wrote down ten words or phrases that we felt represented our company. Words like “trusted,” “advisor,” “partner,” “North Country,” “excellence,” “continuous improvement,” and “leadership” emerged. However, one word stood out—“safety.” Despite the fact that safety is not the primary focus of our work (although we do offer safety training, audits, and host our annual Safety Day) “safety” was the only word we all shared.
Safety is, of course, essential. Every worker should return home in the same condition as when they started their shift. Accidents are not only harmful to employees but can also be costly to equipment, lead to lawsuits, and result in OSHA fines. But a safe workplace goes beyond being accident-free.
A workplace that prioritizes safety demonstrates respect for its workers—and respected employees are more productive. A safe environment is also an organized one, reducing hazards and wasted time. A safety-first culture creates, as Paul O’Neill described, a “habit of excellence.” And that habit directly supports everything we value—trust, leadership, continuous improvement, and ultimately, success.