Safety starts at the top
How to build a strong safety culture
By Susan Caldwell
Parradee – stock.adobe.com
Developing a strong safety culture in commercial printing means making safety part of how work is planned, executed, and evaluated — not just a set of rules posted on the wall. Printing environments are complex and fast-paced, involving heavy machinery, sharp tools, inks and solvents, chemical exposure, noise, ergonomics, and significant fire risk. Because of this, a strong safety culture matters just as much as regulatory compliance.
The good news is that even small print shops can build a strong safety culture and carry it through the growth of the company. In fact, starting early often makes it easier. When safety is embedded from the beginning, it becomes a habit rather than a reaction, helping organizations stay ahead of risks as operations expand.
Safety starts at the top
As with any successful initiative, a strong safety culture starts with leadership. Safety cannot be treated as a separate program or an afterthought — it must be tied directly to business strategy. When leadership prioritizes safety in decision-making, resource allocation, and daily operations, employees notice.
One of the most powerful moments in a print shop is when leadership stops a press for safety reasons. When operators see that production will pause to address a hazard, it sends a clear message: safety matters more than speed. That message spreads quickly throughout the production floor.
Leaders can reinforce this culture by talking about safety as a core business value, not just an OSHA requirement. Participating in safety walks, wearing required PPE, and engaging directly with employees about safety concerns builds trust and shared ownership. As an 18-year former Print[Ed] high school instructor, I often reminded students that safety is not only about protecting yourself — it’s about protecting everyone around you.
Responding to hazards & near misses
How a company responds to hazards and near misses is a direct reflection of its safety culture. Near misses should never be ignored or brushed aside. They are early warning signs and opportunities to prevent serious injuries.
When hazards or near misses are reported, they should be investigated thoroughly and promptly. Root causes should be identified, and corrective actions implemented quickly. Taking the time to address these issues helps prevent injuries, illnesses, and even fatalities while demonstrating that the company genuinely cares about employee well-being.
Equally important is creating an environment where employees feel safe reporting issues without fear of blame or retaliation. A culture of trust encourages transparency, which is essential for preventing incidents before they happen.
Don’t reward speed over safety
Commercial printing is a deadline-driven industry. Customers want fast turnaround times, and print shops feel constant pressure to deliver. While speed and efficiency are important, they should never come at the expense of safe work practices.
The phrase “No job is so urgent that it can’t be done safely” is especially relevant in printing. Cutting corners to meet a deadline may seem harmless in the moment, but the true cost of an injury can be significant. Lost production time, regulatory fines, workers’ compensation claims, and reduced employee morale all impact the bottom line.
In the long run, prioritizing safety actually supports productivity. Fewer injuries mean less downtime, fewer disruptions, and a more engaged workforce.
Identifying & controlling print-specific hazards
Effective safety cultures are proactive, not reactive. One of the simplest and most effective practices is making hazard identification a routine activity. Daily, weekly, or monthly walkthroughs of the shop floor can uncover issues before they escalate.
Printing-specific hazards often include fire risks from the combination of paper, heat, and solvents; trip and slip hazards; machine guarding deficiencies; and housekeeping concerns. Maintaining a clean, organized shop not only reduces risk but also improves efficiency and quality.
When operators, employees, and management all take responsibility for identifying hazards, safety becomes a shared effort rather than a management-only task.
Training for understanding, not just compliance
With a younger workforce entering the printing industry, many employees lack basic exposure to OSHA regulations and workplace safety principles. I saw this firsthand as an instructor — students often graduated without a clear understanding of safety expectations in the workforce.
Effective safety training must go beyond compliance checklists. It should be relevant, hands-on, and ongoing, starting on the first day of employment. New-hire onboarding should include shop-specific hazards, hands-on demonstrations at equipment, chemical safety training, and instruction on how to locate and use Safety Data Sheets.
Training should also cover emergency procedures, powered industrial truck operation and certification, and job-specific risks. Using real incidents as learning tools — without blame — helps employees understand why safety rules exist and how incidents can be prevented.
Empowering employees to speak up
A strong safety culture is participatory. Employees should feel empowered to speak up, stop work if necessary, and report hazards without fear. Providing anonymous reporting options, formal stop-work authority without retaliation, and safety committees that include operators, not just managers, reinforce this message.
Recognition programs for reporting hazards and near misses further support engagement. It’s important to remember that near-miss reporting is a success indicator, not a failure. The more issues identified early, the safer the operation becomes.
Making safety visible
Visibility plays a critical role in reinforcing safety culture. If safety isn’t visible, it isn’t prioritized. Clear signage, PPE requirements, color-coded chemical labeling, floor markings for walkways and forklift zones, and posted emergency response maps all help keep safety top of mind.
Print shops have a unique advantage when it comes to safety visibility. The ability to produce custom signage, posters, floor wraps, safety apparel, and equipment labels allows creativity to support safety messaging in powerful ways.
Preparing for emergencies
Emergency preparedness is another essential component of a strong safety culture. Drills and practice are critical. Having spent 10 years in EMS, I can attest that you can never practice too much. Print shops should have spill kits readily available, provide fire prevention and suppression training, conduct evacuation drills, and ensure employees are trained in first aid, eyewash use, and defibrillator operation. Prepared employees respond more effectively under pressure, reducing the severity of incidents.
Making safety ‘How we do things here’
Ultimately, safety culture is about mindset. When safety becomes “how we do things here,” the benefits are clear: fewer injuries, less downtime, improved quality, stronger compliance, and higher employee trust and retention.
Safety equals retention. Starting meetings with a safety moment, celebrating safety milestones, and reinforcing positive behaviors helps embed safety into everyday operations. When safety is part of the culture, everyone wins — employees, leadership, and customers alike.
Susan Caldwell is a product manager for print at GMG EnviroSafe, with over 35 years of experience in commercial printing, management, production, and EHS compliance. Working as an EMT for 10 years exposed her to the real-world consequences of poor safety practices, and as a cancer survivor, she is passionate about promoting safer chemical alternatives across the industry.
