Page 8 - 2019 Mid Year Newsletter

To assist our organization in accomplishing this, Hill’s
Safety Committee will resume its mission in July 2019.
The overall mission is to develop and promote a healthy
and safe work environment for all U.S. and international
employees. Committee representation will be diverse
as mission objectives include, but are not limited
to, procedural development and review, employee
wellness, education and training, injury management,
incident reviews, and performance recognition. One of
the initial steps the Hill safety committee will embark
upon is establishing a general means for employees to
communicate their ideas and concerns regarding safety
and health.

Concerning U.S. safety performance, says Mueller, “Hill’s
total recordable incident rate (TRIR) decreased 55% in 2018
(.80) from that of 2017 (1.11). Our experience modification
rating (EMR) decreased from 1.36 (5/2018 - 5/2019) to 1.14
(5/2019 – 5/2020).
“We’re on the right course toward improvement as we
promote zero accident workplace initiatives that require
support and participation from employees at all levels
within the organization. How do we know this course is the
right course? At the close of the first quarter in 2019, Hill
U.S. based employees collectively achieved a TRIR of 0.00.”

Mr. Mueller’s mantra “every choice matters” means
employees must weigh safety as part of their decisions and
whenever unsafe or unsure, it’s highly important to involve
others before making a decision. The principle of applying
foresight to prevent hindsight is highly attainable when we
ask ourselves:

• What am I about to do? Or what is that person about to
do?

• What could go wrong?
• What could be done to make it safer?
• What have I done to communicate the hazards?

Among 2019’s safety initiatives, Mr. Mueller states,
“[Human Resources Director of Training and Development]
Elizabeth Whalen and I will be investing part of our time
and effort into creating safety shorts on a variety of topics
relative to safety and health at Hill. Heat stress is one such

Hill International Newsletter 2019 | Page 5