Post by Freudenberg Performance Materials

Behind every safety milestone, there are countless small decisions, daily actions, and a team committed to doing things the right way. The team at our production site in Pisticci, Italy recently celebrated an important milestone: one year without accidents. While this may appear as a modest achievement, it reflects the commitment, responsibility, and shared mindset of everyone on site.  Compared to other EU countries, Italy has one of the lowest accident rates per employee. According to a 2025 study by Sicurezza e Ambiente, an Italian company with 500 employees experiences an average of five accidents per year. (Source: Sicurezza e Ambiente, “Accidents in Italy and Comparison with Other Countries”, 2025). This achievement is built on the dedication of the onsite team and supported by our continuously evolving safety management system. Safety management at the Pisticci plant is a structured system integrated into the Freudenberg Group framework. The focus is on consistent processes, continuous learning, and prevention in daily operations. Employees regularly receive updates on plant-specific risks, operational changes, process developments, and HSE management system findings. From the first day they join Freudenberg, new employees build a strong safety mindset by completing a mandatory onboarding program before starting independent work. In addition to regular mandatory safety training, additional sessions during planned shutdowns use real-life situations from other sites as examples, such as good catches and high-risk events. These examples make risks more tangible and strengthen awareness of potential consequences in daily work. Safety starts on the shop floor and our First Line Leaders make it happen every day. Together with HSE and department managers, they actively reinforce safety procedures by identifying unsafe acts and conditions, promoting corrective actions, and reinforcing safe behaviors through their daily presence on the shop floor. Integrating safety audits and inspections with operational excellence processes fosters a more cohesive approach to continuous improvement, ensuring that findings are addressed methodically and connected to operational performance.  Maintaining up-to-date safety knowledge requires ongoing dialogue, close observation of daily work activities, and regular exchanges within the teams. This continuous commitment helps our safety approach evolve with organizational, technological, and operational changes, while keeping it closely connected to the realities of our business and the people behind it every day.  Reaching one full year without accidents is proof that consistent prevention efforts, teamwork, and everyday actions truly make a difference. But safety is an ongoing commitment. It's a continuous journey. Our team remains committed to reviewing, improving, and evolving our approach to maintain high standards and meet new challenges.