The work safety culture according to De Nora

At De Nora, the safety culture is more than an operational priority; it is a core value that guides all activities. With the clear goal of gradually reducing workplace risks and accidents, the company promotes the “Safety First” culture, translating it into a daily commitment to constant improvement. 

This vision begins with one key point: the active cooperation of everyone. At De Nora, Safety Culture is based on a collective commitment to developing the skills necessary to identify and report potentially dangerous situations. Everyone is called to contribute because safety is a shared responsibility and a foundation for individual and collective growth. 

Now, let's take a closer look at De Nora's initiatives. 

1. Safety at De Nora: a shared responsibility

De Nora’s safety culture is based on a simple yet powerful principle: everyone is responsible for their own safety and the safety of others 

This approach translates into the motto, "Safety Starts With You," which is an invitation shared at every company level to actively participate in spreading a culture that improves everyone's safety. 

To promote everyone’s awareness, active participation and engagement, De Nora has introduced different tools and initiatives. 

De Nora periodically organizes Safety Days at each of its sites. These events are dedicated to spreading safety culture through training, activities, and drills that aim to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and shared responsibility. 

In 2019, De Nora introduced the initiative "Work Safely," which consists of one- or two-month-long awareness campaigns involving all production sites. Each campaign focuses on a specific topic, such as the proper use of chemicals, personal protective equipment, and fire safety procedures. The goal is to raise individual awareness and improve the collective approach to safety. 

In this project, everyone is encouraged to promptly report any safety issues, whether ongoing or potential, on a daily basis.  

Once notified, these reports are categorized into two types:  

• Near Miss: events, situations, or behaviors that occurred and could have caused damage. Despite not having caused accidents, they offer valuable insights for improving prevention. 
• Safety Observation: If not properly addressed, behaviors and conditions that do not comply with safety standards could lead to near misses or accidents. 

These observations allow us to identify and address critical issues before they become problems, which contributes to the continuous improvement of the working environment and empowers people to ensure collective safety. 

Thanks to the active involvement of our employees, the number of reports collected increased exponentially.  Between 2019 and 2024, the number of reports increased from fewer than 100 to more than 1,400 per year, which is a clear indication of De Nora employees' growing awareness of their role in reducing workplace risks. 

2. From analysis to practical solutions 

Numerous reports are collected, assessed, and discussed monthly according to their level of criticality. 

For critical situations requiring immediate intervention, a structured analysis of causes is carried out. Methods such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, and Quick Kaizen are used to detect the causes and set an effective action plan, followed by a subsequent review. 

De Nora also organizes Safety Walks, periodic meetings during which employees physically walk through the operational areas to verify compliance with safety regulations, monitor the effective resolution of issues, and identify any new critical issues. 

At the same time, methods such as STOP Audits, inspired by the DuPont methodology, have been introduced. These assess workplace conditions and compliance in the performance of production steps and encourage transparent dialogue between auditors and operators, with the aim of improving operational areas and methodologies. 

In this way, both figures are directly involved in the assessment and improvement process, ensuring that safety practices are shared and respected across all levels of the company. 

3. De Nora's new workplace safety initiatives

Despite the significant progress and various safety initiatives, De Nora’s work isn’t finished yet. 

The continuous growth of Safety Culture, which aims to achieve zero accidents at work, is constantly evolving and is constantly enriched with new practices. 

Among these, Risk Hunting stands out. This collective activity, which was recently introduced, offers learning opportunities in which participants analyze a production area or picture to detect potential safety issues 

Risk hunting is effective because it helps quickly detect issues and develop practical skills in a safe environment.  

In addition, monthly sessions are held to share safety reports among all production sites, and external audits are conducted to ensure compliance with the law. The goal is to make security management increasingly autonomous and participatory by creating a system in which every worker feels they play a key role. 

At the heart of every workplace safety initiative at De Nora is the idea that change comes from people. Training everyone to quickly recognize and report potential risks transforms individual awareness into collective action, making safety an integral part of everyone’s job and responsibility on a daily basis.