Making a difference-Leaving a Legacy

Reflections for National Safety Month

Making a Difference

2020 was a very challenging year for us all.?Like so many, Enviva had to pivot and change how we do business.?Throughout the pandemic, we have been privileged to maintain continuity of our operations, supply our customers with the renewable energy that powers critical infrastructure around the world, and keep our people healthy and safe.?What’s more, we expanded our footprint,?engaging in?multiple expansion projects across the Mid-Atlantic while constructing a new port facility in Pascagoula, MS, and the nation’s largest pellet manufacturing facility in Lucedale, MS where I write this today.?The Lucedale project will be soon followed by a similarly ambitious one in Epes, AL.?Even with all these concurrent projects, we’ve remained focused on our mission, values, and making sure we keep our people safe.?As I reflect on National Safety Month, I thought I would share a few lessons learned that have helped me over the past 30 years and, most recently, on Enviva’s newest construction projects.?

Integrated Management Systems and Contractor Partners?

It is important to find contractors who understand your organization’s mission and share your values.?In our case, Enviva is dedicated to taking care of our people,?protecting,?and growing forests, and fighting climate change.?My focus is on the people who work at and visit our sites.?This includes ALL contractors, subcontractors, visitors, and of course, our own associates.??At our Lucedale site, we are currently ramping up our workforce and have partnered with a number of contractors and equipment suppliers.?Today, that can mean over 300 personnel on site.?And at peak, we will top out at close to 500 people working diligently every week to deliver this project.???

Because all our sites are multi-employer worksites with Enviva maintaining direct oversight of construction, it has been critical to find like-minded contractors.?Having contractors with similar core values and priorities ensures that we are aligned in how we build our facilities from Day One.?I cannot overstate the importance of this as it can have a negative or positive impact on performance in all areas.?Our General Contractor at Lucedale, Creola Alabama-based G.A. West, has brought a robust commitment to safety which, to a Creating Employer, is priceless!?G.A. West has received numerous safety awards and recognition within industry.?This fusion of corporate EHS value-driven systems has created an open, positive work environment where everyone knows that both organizations are looking out for their well-being and that we ‘Walk the Talk’ when it comes to safety.?Our project objective says it all, “Target Zero”.?

The Importance of People?

Those of you who know me know that my life is about caring for people.?It is wonderful to work for a company that shares my values in this respect.?One of the ways we care for people on site is by calling ‘Safety Time Outs’.?We use them judiciously but regularly on our construction sites.?These time outs break the chain of events that can, and often do, lead to the unfortunate consequences of unsafe acts, conditions, behaviors, or omissions.???

Recently, I have noticed many young faces in our orientations.?In fact, I was informed that two G.A. West employees just recently graduated from high school, and this is their first full-time job!!?What an incredible opportunity to make an impact on someone’s career and safety mindset!!?At Enviva, we are responsible for overseeing safety on a construction site, but we also have the awesome responsibility of teaching these young men and women how to work safely.?We’ve empowered them to call for a ‘Safety Time Out’ if something doesn’t look right, sound right, or just doesn’t feel right.?

I was so proud to see this play out on the site several weeks ago.?A younger worker was flagging/spotting for a telehandler operator lifting MCC (Motor Control Cabinets) off a flat-bed trailer.?This telehandler was equipped with two outriggers to help stabilize the machine during lifting operations to ensure the center of gravity did not cause an overturning movement of the machine.?The operator was going to pick up the MCC cabinet without extending the outriggers.?The young spotter stopped the operator before he lifted the pallet with the MCC and directed him to deploy his outriggers.?The operator took the direction and complied without further delay.??I?went directly to my office and retrieved an Enviva-branded item to give to this young man to accompany my thanks for calling out a safer way to perform the lift.

Another story involves a young woman who is also new to construction.?She shared with me that, prior to joining G.A. West, she managed 12 mobile telephone stores.?With the onset of the pandemic, she decided to make a career move.?Originally, she was hired as a Fire Watcher during welding/hot work operations.?But she quickly demonstrated that she was ready for much more responsibility and now oversees the Confined Space Attendants and will soon be supervising a small labor crew.?I asked about her career aspirations, and she showed an interest in G.A. West’s safety group.?I told her that I thought she would be an excellent safety professional and encouraged her to go to the American Society of Safety Professionals’ website to explore the many professional certifications available.?I cannot tell you how excited and proud examples like these make me!!?

Leaving a Legacy?

As ya’ll know, my career in EHS (also known as HSE) has spanned three decades, and I’m beginning to look towards the time when I trade in my hard hat and steel-toed boots for a ball cap, fishing vest, and waders.?As a former boss and dear friend once told his team, “Three years from now, no one will remember if the project was on time and on budget.?What they will remember is if someone was seriously injured or killed.?Make sure that you take the time to do the job right, which means doing it safely.”?When I do hang up that hard hat, I hope that people will remember me for three things:?

1. Their safety was always my top priority?
2. I was professional and respectful in the execution of my duties?
3. I wasn’t afraid to stop a job and help them see why?

But?retirement isn’t today or even this year so until then, I continue to put on the hard hat and get that red Mississippi mud on my boots.?Be safe and stay healthy!!!