26 Years Without a Lost-Time Incident, Wisconsin Manufacturer Still Looks to get Safer

Safety at Work

The last time Wisconsin-based Sentry Equipment experienced a lost-time incident, current Sentry EHS chief Canton Larson was 3 years old, and the world was bracing for the uncertainty of Y2K's impact on technology.

Twenty-six years later, a culture of openness, communication, and pride continues to fuel the manufacturer's commitment to safety; nonetheless, Larson constantly looks for room to grow.

"Truly taking pride in the task and knowing that there are resources, so that you don't need to be afraid to 'see something, say something,'" are the "key ingredients" for safety, Larson said. "There won't be repercussions for telling us about a safety problem."

Larson also noted that Sentry, which has been in business for a century, has deep roots in keeping workers safe on the job.

"It was ingrained way back, and it's the discipline we've had for a long time, so that you want to keep that pride and keep that record going," Larson said. "We have an upbeat culture, and a positive culture, where it might not be something we can solve right away, but we'll get it solved."

When it comes to getting it solved, Larson detailed that achieving a great safety record doesn't translate to resting on laurels or past wins at Sentry.

"I come from a sports background, and with that comes accountability and never being satisfied, so we're continually doing risk assessments, gap analysis," he said. "We invest in training that is about coaching and interaction rather than just training."

Additionally, Sentry has provided Larson with the tools to take safety to the team.

"Sentry has allowed me to get certification in what I need, and show that they're really investing in me," Larson said. "And we build safety into onboarding, so that right away on day 1 through 5, you are getting bombarded with safety and that shows right away that we care and that we will take the time to interact with you."

Another factor that helps Sentry with "buy in" when it comes to safety is its status as an employee-owned company.

"It's a huge deal getting people to understand that anything we can do can impact our sales," Larson said. "I know if our guys can get on sites and do our work, the better we do."

Safety plays a key role in letting workers know they are doing their part to make money for the company -- and themselves.

"The less injuries we have, the easier it is to get on customer sites," Larson said. "And if we can get onsite, that's where our products are."

Dollars and cents aside, Larson recounted how early steps in his career brought him into a leadership position and how sending people home from work the way they came in provided his "why."

"I realized people care about coming in and leaving safe," he said. "They have families, I have a son at home, so it's bigger than myself."

Setting the example is personal for Larson as is connection with his team.

"The best I can be is helping you come in and go home," he said. "Safety is cool."

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