Stop thinking about workplace safety merely as following a set of rules. True safety, says Graham Packaging CEO and President Bob Pyle, goes beyond standard operating procedures, and even beyond the workplace.
"Off-the-job safety and mental health are integral to our overall safety program," Pyle told Health + Safety magazine in a profile naming him as one of the National Safety Council's 2024 CEOs Who "Get It" Award.
"We provide resources and support for employees' well-being beyond the workplace, recognizing the interconnectedness of personal safety and mental health with on-the-job performance."
Pyle has led the Lancaster, Pa.-based blow molder and injection molder for three years. He established an Executive Safety Council, adopted a "safety first, quality-focused" mindset and conducted a nationwide employee safety perception survey.
In a news release, Graham Packaging said it achieved its lowest number of recordable incidents, 29, in company history in 2023. It has 5,000 employees. On average, it added, a Graham manufacturing plant operates 3.7 years without a reportable incident.
The Safety Council selected seven corporate leaders for the 2024 recognition.