"A Safety Culture Needs Time to Grow."

Safety is more than compliance: In this interview, Aline Zanon explains how Leadec Brazil is building a true safety culture – from LOTO programs and stress prevention to fostering personal responsibility on the shop floor.

What are the main challenges you face? 

One of our biggest challenges is raising awareness among a diverse workforce. In the past, safety was often seen as an administrative topic, but now it must become part of everyday practice on the shop floor. This shift requires a mindset change among employees, from simply following the rules to taking personal responsibility for their own safety and that of their colleagues. A real safety culture is something that needs time to grow. 

And what measures have proven to be effective? 

We have made significant progress with our LOTO (Lock-Out and Tag-Out) program, which ensures equipment is safely shut down during maintenance. Simple, visual safety posters and targeted technical training have also been very effective. We have also expanded our focus to include mental health, with ongoing evaluations to identify and reduce stress factors. In addition, our teams are actively improving their chemical safety knowledge. I think this is a real win-win, as it reduces health risks for our employees while helping clients choose safer, more sustainable cleaning products. This benefits everyone involved, creating a safer workplace and a more responsible supply chain.