Joker����

April 17, 2025

Joker����’s first annual Commitment to Zero ESSH Excellence Award

At Joker����, our Commitment to Zero is the most important mission of each day. No product or profit margin is as important as the safety of our employees and the safe operation of our processes and sites.  Our Commitment to Zero ESSH Excellence Award was created to honor the person who lives this commitment most visibly each year. 

And for the first annual award, that person is Steven McVay – nominated for his innovative approach to safety and his outstanding leadership in Hazard Recognition Plus (HRP).

As the unit training coordinator for the Halcon/Wharf area at our Pensacola, Florida site, Steven has transformed how operators approach safety procedures by integrating HRP principles directly into standard operating procedures.

"It's not about the HRP form. It's about the conversation," Steven said. "HRP is just a systematic way to identify hazards. Instead of guessing that you've talked about every possible hazard, you go through the eight energy categories and have confidence that you've addressed each one."

His innovative approach includes adding spider diagrams to job steps and highlighting associated energy categories, allowing operators to have more targeted conversations about possible hazards before starting tasks.

Walking the talk

Steven’s impact goes beyond procedural changes. As one of three Coach-Trainer-Specialists at the Pensacola site among just 12 across the company, he exemplifies our Commitment to Zero through his hands-on approach. 

"What really distinguishes Steven is the boots-on-the-ground mindset,” said Caleb Lundy, senior production engineer at Pensacola who nominated Steven for the award. "His presence immediately shifts the atmosphere to a more focused, intentional work style. If you're looking for someone who talks the talk AND walks the walk, look no further."

Steven's dedication to practical safety stems from his own experience. Before becoming a trainer, he spent 10 years as an operator in the same area and as a member of the fire department.

"I always just try to come from our employee’s perspective," McVay explained. "They're the ones with their hands on the equipment. At the end of the day, you've got a job that you're expected to get done. How do you get that job done and be safe doing it?"

Creating a culture of empowerment

Paul Cartlidge, senior VP of ESSH, notes Steven's influence on safety culture: "Steven is engaged with the people in the field, understanding what their challenges are, helping them to see things that they wouldn't otherwise see. He not only walks the talk, but he drives improvements in our processes."

Steven says those improvements come from fostering a culture where everyone feels empowered to speak up.

"Joker���� is not a 'just get it done' kind of company. We've evolved to be efficient, but everyone has stop-the-job authority, and that’s a big deal," he said. "You empower people by telling them it’s ok to say something. That's the biggest thing – an environment where everyone is empowered and open to communication."

Production manager Amanda Lavigne says the biggest testament to Steven’s leadership comes from his actions and his peers. 

“He encourages operations to stop the job if they are unsure about hazards and always facilitates a post-job debrief. Everyone in the area looks to Steven when questioning or needing assistance on safety policies.”

In addition to Steven, the runners-up for this award also deserve recognition for their nominations for outstanding safety performance at their respective sites. 

Innovative safety in Suzhou

Jiaqiao Xu shows we care through his commitment to safety at our Suzhou, China facility, which has maintained zero recordable incidents for over 1500 days. Jiaqiao implemented critical electrical safety upgrades including dust-proof pre-mixer components and enhanced insulation protection. After noticing three prior spills, Jiaqiao took ownership of the wastewater treatment and dust/fume systems, optimizing the equipment to eliminate spills entirely. 

Jiaqiao’s preventative maintenance program has dramatically improved working conditions and reduced complaints. His creative and innovative safety reinforcements—stair safety voice reminders and pedestrian-forklift detection alarms—have also made immediate impacts on daily operations and worker safety.

Sustainability leadership in Mozzate

Angelo Vanossi has transformed waste management at our Mozzate, Italy site, delivering significant environmental and financial benefits. By dedicating a specific operator to waste sorting and establishing clear procedures, Angelo created substantial value by making our recycling efforts more effective and less costly. 

The results are impressive: mixed packaging waste decreased by over 140,000 kg, while pure plastic waste increased from 8,780 kg to 32,560 kg, and paper waste rose from 46,480 kg to 136,710 kg. This better every day approach generated €31,006 in savings while advancing our environmental goals and establishing best practices that could benefit other Joker���� facilities worldwide.

Congratulations to each of these employees for being recognized with our first annual Commitment to Zero ESSH Excellence Award. Their knowledge, innovation and leadership are inspiring to our entire organization as we continue our Commitment to Zero.