Safety Starts with Us: Celebrating Milestones at Peterson Chemicals

As we continue to recognize National Safety Month, we’re proud to spotlight two standout teams from Peterson Chemical Technology (PCT). Fort Smith Ayers and Fort Smith – both located in Fort Smith, Arkansas – exemplify our value of putting people first through their dedication to a safe and supportive workplace.

PCT – Fort Smith Ayers reached an incredible milestone of 597 days without a recordable injury, while PCT – Fort Smith has gone an outstanding 856 days injury-free. These achievements reflect the strength of a culture rooted in proactive safety practices and daily accountability.

“Our employees feel comfortable speaking with management at any time about safety concerns or suggestions,” said Cristina Hassell, EHS Supervisor. “We keep the lines of communication open and reinforce the importance of safety in every conversation – whether it’s through our daily meetings, monthly zone audits, or even informal check-ins.”

Both branches are being recognized with achievement certificates, and a special thank-you celebration will be held to honor their dedication. These milestones are more than just numbers – they represent a shared commitment to ensuring that everyone goes home safe every day.

Thank you to the teams at PCT for making safety a core part of your culture!

Team Members from PCT – Fort Smith (top) and PCT – Fort Smith Ayers (bottom) holding safety certificates.

Pacoma China: Building a Culture of Quality and Safety

At our Pacoma Ningbo facility in China, employees recently came together to create a Quality and Safety Culture wall – a powerful symbol of their shared commitment to excellence.

Each team member signed the wall, pledging to uphold the highest standards in product quality, meet delivery timelines, and tackle the toughest challenges with passion and confidence.

This initiative reflects how we’re actively strengthening our safety culture in our facilities worldwide – not just through words but through visible, collective action.

As we recognize Safety Month, we are proud of Pacoma Ningbo’s commitment to putting people first and creating a workplace where safety and care are the standard!

Spotlight on Safety: High Point Furniture Leads by Example

At our High Point Furniture Branch in High Point, NC, safety isn’t just a protocol – it’s a culture. Under the leadership of Branch Manager Barry Poole and EHS Manager Bill Covert, the team has made remarkable strides in strengthening safety awareness, reporting processes, and employee engagement, all while living out our company value of putting people first.

Bill Covert and Barry Poole

One standout initiative has been the Environmental Health & Safety Suggestion Incentive Program. Launched in early 2023, the program empowers employees to report hazards and near-misses, recognize unsafe conditions, and suggest improvements – rewarding proactive behavior with monthly and quarterly recognition and incentives. But more than the rewards, it’s built trust. Employees know their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.

By tracking and analyzing incident data, the team identified areas for improvement and acted swiftly. One department reported the most near-misses, not because of more risk, but because of a strong commitment to reporting. This data-driven approach led to targeted “safety stand-downs,” which are focused conversations about stopping unsafe acts and real-time feedback that’s already shifting behaviors.

In just over a year, the results are clear: more reporting, fewer hazards, and a deeper sense of shared responsibility. As Bill said, “Our employees see us putting our money where our mouth is.”

High Point Furniture is setting a powerful example of what it means to care for our people, improve our culture, and ensure everyone goes home safe every day.

Thank you to our colleagues at High Point Furniture for putting people first!

Valor ERG Spotlight: Meet Will Wright

At L&P, our employee resource groups (ERGs) are communities where our colleagues can learn and grow together. We recently launched Valor – an ERG dedicated to creating a strong community that fosters belonging, support, and engagement for our employee veterans, military families, and allies.

Will

To celebrate Valor’s launch and growth, we’re sharing members’ stories!

This month, we’d like you to meet Will Wright, Environmental Health and Safety Manager – Europe. We asked Will to share about his military experience and why he joined Valor.

Can you tell us about your military experience?

I served in the British Royal Navy for 15 years (2000 to 2015) and was lucky enough to serve all over the world, including in the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and Antarctica where I served on frigates and island patrol vessels. I also served in tri-service units in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as numerous shore establishments.

What motivated you to join the military and what did you learn from your experience?

I joined the military to follow in the footsteps of my father and grandfather who both served in the Army. I was also looking for a career that provided adventure, training, and purpose.

During my time in the military, I learned that anything is possible with a motivated and focused team and that I was much more capable than I ever realised. Serving in the military provided life lessons and gave me a strong work ethic, which I have taken forward into my EHS career. Serving also helped me be thankful for what I have in life.

Why did you join Valor?

I joined Valor to help provide a community for veterans and service affiliates. When I left the military, community is something I missed and it is difficult to replace, so having a community focused on veterans and armed forces affiliates was a driver for me.

Another driver was to be part of a platform to provide reassurance and help family members of military personnel understand service life. I want to provide advice, guidance, and resources to people transitioning to civilian life, as I know that the transition can be difficult, especially when trying to identify transferable skills from service and communicate them in a way that makes sense in the civilian community.

Thank you, Will, for your service, for sharing your experience, and for helping strengthen Valor’s community!

ECS – Verona Celebrates One Year Injury-Free

At Elite Comfort Solutions in Verona, Mississippi, safety isn’t just a policy – it’s a core part of the culture. Recently, the team proudly celebrated an outstanding milestone: 365 days without a recordable injury.

ECS Verona credits their success to several key efforts, including strong housekeeping practices, routine safety walks, and a culture of accountability where everyone looks out for one another. Team members actively engage in identifying and reporting near-misses, which are reviewed and analyzed to prevent potential incidents.

“We were happy but cautious when we hit the milestone,” said Brandy Abbott, Regional EHS Manager. “Everyone is excited, but we know staying vigilant is key.”

Employees watching a video during a monthly OSHA training and the ECS – Verona plant floor.

Leaders play a vital role in maintaining diligence and safety success. From recognizing safe behavior on the floor to modeling safe practices, supervisors and managers have created an environment where safety is a shared responsibility.

“A standout example of employee engagement was when a supervisor coached a new forklift driver, reinforcing best practices and building confidence through one-on-one mentoring,” said Brandy.

This safety milestone reflects Verona’s commitment to creating a workplace where team members feel safe, supported, and empowered to prioritize wellbeing.

Congratulations, Verona, on this incredible accomplishment!

PHC India: Prioritizing Safety, Celebrating Commitment

Precision Hydraulic Cylinders in Chennai, India, recently hosted National Safety Day, and this year, participation soared to 78%, up from 47% in 2021, thanks to the commitment of our people!

With engaging new initiatives like a PPE fashion show, hazard spot identification, and a firefighting competition, employees take safety to heart while having fun. Participants were also recognized with rewards for their involvement and enthusiasm.

This growing engagement reflects how we’re putting people first and making safety not just a priority, but a core part of our culture.

Thanks to everyone at PCH – Chennai!

L&P Receives Golden Road Award from Arka Express

Golden Road Award

At L&P, we’re proud to partner with Arka Express – our carrier partner who services many of our U.S. locations.

Recently, Arka Express visited our Corporate office and presented their Golden Road Award to us. This award is “presented to the shipper who epitomizes efficiency and fosters the strongest relationships” within their over-the-road division. We are honored to receive this award for the second year in a row!

While they were with us, Arka Express team members treated our Corporate Logistics team to a pizza lunch.

We are grateful to the Arka Express team and look forward to continuing to build a strong, long-term partnership with them!

Members of our Corporate Logistics team receive the Golden Road Award from Arka Express

Max Thorpe Attends Michigan Safety Conference

When it comes to safety, staying informed of best practices, trends, and the latest science can save lives.

Max

Our colleague Max Thorpe, Regional EHS Manager, recently attended the Michigan Safety Conference to learn from other safety professionals and strengthen safety practices at L&P. We talked to him about what he learned and why prioritizing safety is important to him.

What did you learn at the conference?

I attended presentations around sustainability, machine guarding, respirations, near miss reporting, PFAS (aka forever chemicals) remediation, and more.

I learned a ton about respirators. In my work area, we currently do not require them, but this conference helped me understand respirator requirements and how to determine what respirators are required for specific jobs.

How will you apply what you learned at L&P?

In safety speak, a “near miss” is an event that could have resulted in someone being hurt or damaged property but didn’t due to quick remediation or some other factor.

I am going to implement some changes to improve the quality and quantity of near miss reporting. I plan to implement a ‘Near Miss Hall of Fame,’ which will be a tool that helps the production team highlight their recording of near misses.

Why is prioritizing safety important to you?

Every day, I want my teams to go home to their loved ones. I believe that people have a right to work in a safe environment and should not have to take risks that impact their lives.

Thank you, Max, for putting people first by prioritizing safety!

Celebrating a Million-Mile Safety Milestone

At Leggett & Platt Flooring Products in Statesville, North Carolina, safety isn’t just a goal – it’s a way of life. We’re proud to recognize three outstanding drivers – John “Marty” Watters, James “Wesley” Braswell, and Reggie Dunlap – for each reaching a major milestone: driving one million miles with zero accidents.

Reggie, Marty, and Wesley

This remarkable achievement speaks to their skill, commitment, and vigilance on the road every single day. To honor their accomplishment, the team presented them with custom leather jackets and certificates, signifying a job well done.

Each driver reflected on what this milestone meant to them. For Marty Watters, it’s about legacy: “Achieving over one million miles safely gives me the feeling that I’m doing my job just like my dad. He always told me to work hard, do a good job, and be safe. He would be proud.”

Wesley Braswell shared that safe driving is about constant awareness. “It’s keeping a constant scan of your surroundings to be better prepared for the unexpected.” Reggie Dunlap added, “You have to be patient as a truck driver. I believe the regular safety trainings that we receive help us to remember to be focused while on the road. I’m proud of reaching one million miles safely.”

Human Resources and Safety Manager, Portia Knox, and Traffic Manager, Roxanne Butler, echoed these sentiments: “Attaining one million safe miles shows that they are reliable and focused. The quarterly training they receive from Corporate Logistics keeps them updated and knowledgeable of the road rules they adhere to while driving. They always do their jobs with excellence.”

These accomplishments remind us why we prioritize safety at every level of our organization. Putting people first means supporting the wellbeing of our team – whether they’re behind the wheel, on the production floor, or in the office.

Congratulations, Reggie, Marty, and Wesley. Your dedication keeps us all moving forward, safely!

Business Product Showcase 2025 Recap

As a diversified manufacturer, we make A LOT of products – and we admit that it can be hard to remember them all. Many of our team members say they’re always learning something new about what we make and do at L&P.

To help with that, we held a Business Product Showcase on our Corporate campus! Representatives from our Bedding, Automotive, Hydraulics, Flooring, Home Furniture, Work Furniture, and Hanes business units came together to share more about their products and give employees a chance to interact with them.

Check out some of the photos from our event below!