Just like at any other Metsä Fibre production unit, the work day starts with a morning meeting where the first topic is a review of safety observations from the previous day.
“Safety observations are made by our employees and service providers and registered in our HSEQ system. If the observation requires corrective measures, we will determine who is responsible for carrying them out and a schedule,” explains Erik Forsander, Production Engineer. HSEQ stands for Health, Safety, Environment and Quality, and refers to a system that ensures their proper management.
It all starts with preventive safety work
Operations at Metsä Fibre’s production sites are shaped by the company’s safety management requirements. They guide everyone to act in a preventive manner so that there are no dangerous situations or accidents. Safety objectives are followed up monthly to ensure they are realised. Safety observations, safety walks and discussions are important tools in preventive safety work.
Regular rehearsals with the occupational safety team
Lappeenranta sawmill’s occupational safety team is includes 16 operators and supervisors. If there is an accident, the team is responsible for guiding the rescue department to its destination and for starting early fire suppression and rescue operations.
Maintenance Engineer Simo Voutilainen, who is a member of the occupational safety team, says: “We practise with the local rescue department regularly, approximately once every couple of months. Among other things, we have learnt how to use the fire-extinguishing and rescue system, pneumatic appliances and the Finnish authorities’ telecommunications network.”
In addition to the team’s own training, the rescue department has also organised first aid and emergency medical care training sessions at the sawmill. All sawmill employees have participated in the sessions.
Everyone has a role to play when it comes to safety
In production facilities, a sticker attached to the stairs reminds you to hold the handrail with one hand. Similar reminders have been placed all over the Lappeenranta sawmill.
“We want to have safety at the forefront of our minds at all times. We also discuss and communicate safety topics in our intranet,” says Mill Manager Anssi Meuronen.
Occupational safety requires the entire personnel to commit; however, the supervisor must be a role model, Meuronen reminds us.
“No unsafe act can be overlooked,” Meuronen says and continues: “Safety is always our top priority. If work cannot be carried out safely, it must stop.”
This article was originally published in Fibre Magazine issue 2025.