During shift changes this week at a Goodyear conveyor belt plant northwest of Columbus, Ohio, plant management is staging an “old-fashion outdoor ice cream social” to deliver safety messages to workers.

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“We’re encouraging our associates – one scoop at a time — to take a break for safety,” said safety manager Jason Niemiller.


According to Niemiller, there is usually an increase in on-the-job accidents in July and August. Heat, pending holiday breaks and other summer-related distractions can add up to a higher risk for mistakes to happen.


“We want everyone to cool down and get fired up about safety,” said Niemiller.


Scheduled events throughout the year encourage workers to “take ownership” of the plant’s safety record, he said.


“We’ve reduced our accident rate by 45%, compared to this time last year,” claimed Niemiller.


Plant manager Mark Miller is proud of the plant’s progress, but points out that there’s still room for improvement.


“Our goal is zero OSHA recordables,” he said.

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