Building a Practical Safety and Compliance Program from the Ground Up
The Situation
A client had an R&D kitchen and small industrial shop but no formal safety program. While team members knew the basics, there were no written procedures or training materials—nothing to ensure compliance, manage risk, or support new hires.
They needed practical, easy-to-use safety systems that would stick—and they needed them fast.
What I Did
I created a tailored program that focused on real risks, not just check-the-box compliance.
Assessed Current Gaps
Reviewed existing operations and equipment use, including commercial kitchen tools, fryers, and shop machinery
Conducted informal interviews with staff to understand where they felt unprepared or at risk
Built Custom Safety Checklists and Protocols
Created daily and weekly checklists for both kitchen and shop environments, covering grease fire safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), first aid locations, and cleaning protocols
Documented fire evacuation and tornado response plans, including muster point locations and communication chains
Trained Safety Officers and Team Members
Developed quick-reference materials and ran training sessions for safety leads
Provided posters, digital documents, and training videos to support new hires and refreshers
Added Incident Reporting and Follow-Up Processes
Set up simple forms for incident and near-miss reporting, along with guidance for follow-up and review
Implemented a monthly audit process that could be completed in under 15 minutes
The Results
Passed third-party safety review with no violations or required corrections
Reduced safety-related questions from team members by 60%
Provided new hires with a clear understanding of expectations from day one
Increased team confidence and accountability around safety practices
Why It Mattered
The client gained peace of mind knowing their team was trained, protected, and compliant. And team members appreciated knowing exactly what was expected and how to stay safe.
