Health and Safety

“Nothing we do is worth getting hurt for — safety first, always.”

At H.B. Fuller, this is our motto and something we advocate for every day. Safety is crucial to our success and to the well-being of our team. Our safety approach drives our employees to embrace safety as a serious and personal issue. Strong, reliable safety practices contribute to an environment where employees bring passion, leadership, and accountability to their work, while adding expertise and innovation to our products. This is only possible with the commitment of all, and we continuously encourage employees to be empowered and accountable for raising safety concerns to ensure they leave work safe and healthy every day.

"Zero injuries, zero pollution and zero violations. Our safety goals are simple, and this collective aspiration shapes the way we perform every day. We focus on three areas to drive continual improvement and risk reduction in our EHS3 performance: People & Talent, Risk Assessment & Control Methods, and Leadership Engagement. We will continue to build capability in these focus areas to enable our continued success."

Peter Montagna
Director, Environment, Health and Safety

Safety Initiatives

Prioritizing EHS policies and 2022 achievements

Meeting and exceeding our Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Sustainability – EHS3 goals is a top priority at H.B. Fuller. In 2022, the team led the establishment of a new EHS3 management system framework focused on four components: planning, execution (hazard and risk identification), assessment and adjustment. While this framework serves as a long-term improvement strategy, the tactical planning and other dimensions of the framework are annually evaluated to ensure continual system improvement. Operator training and standards based on process technology, equipment, and process controls are just a few of the various ways we achieve our goals. In recent years, we have advanced these programs and associated tools with external partners such as the American Chemistry Council and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

Improvements in process safety

Process safety focuses on preventing fires, explosions, and toxic releases that may impact employees, contractors, the environment, and the community. H.B. Fuller realized a ~50% reduction during 2022 related to fires and loss of containment events. Programs and procedures implemented by our EHS3 and Operations teams included proactive risk analysis; process and equipment standards; and a new electronic Management of Change tool. Our employees also completed an American Chemical Society process safety leadership workshop and implemented a comprehensive operator training program in partnership with the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates.

Safety Day: Bringing our everyday safety motto to life

Throughout the year, we highlight different topics to raise awareness, encourage positive safety behaviors, and eliminate risk. In 2022, we took numerous preventive actions at the facility level in the regions where we operate.

One example is our annual Safety Day, designed to reinforce safety’s importance, create global synergies, and foster direct dialogue about EHS3 among employees. Safety Day includes hands-on activities and diverse educational modules that raise employee awareness on issues related to health, safety, well-being, and protecting the environment — empowering our people to be accountable for their actions and for taking part in our EHS3 framework. From warm-up, stretching, and ergonomic exercises to fire extinguisher training and basic life support skills, the event covers a wide array of safety topics. During the program, employees engage in safety competitions, participate in safety-related recognition programs, and experience real-life disabilities caused by work-related accidents in a sensory analysis laboratory.

H.B. Fuller in Costa Rica spotlight

H.B. Fuller’s Costa Rica team did it all in 2022, covering EHS areas at full. In addition to participating in their usual recycling initiatives, Costa Rica employees were encouraged to use Ecobots, an initiative that promotes more sustainable consumer habits by recycling packaging in specific bins in exchange for discount coupons for associated local brands. The local team also hosted a three-month nutrition competition for employees that resulted in nearly 65 kg of bodyfat lost and 20 kg of muscle gained. The event featured mental health sessions and incentives to participate in sports such as soccer and yoga. Other regular exercise classes are also made available to employees throughout the year.