Workplace Safety: Spherion's Commitment to Protecting Lives

Workplace safety is not merely a legal obligation; it is an ethical responsibility for businesses and employees to act upon in order to prevent injuries on the job. Every employee is also a family member, a friend, a partner, and a valued community member, and every employee deserves to work in an environment that allows them to work to their fullest potential without risking their mental or physical well-being.

Every June, the National Safety Council sponsors National Safety Month to increase awareness of the fact that while preventable injuries are the fourth-leading cause of U.S. deaths, there’s a lot we can do to minimize risks and help our coworkers and peers live their fullest lives. 

At Spherion, America’s most-awarded staffing and recruiting agency, we’re most proud of our workplace safety accolades. Our goal is to match candidates with employers who offer exciting jobs in a safe working environment where no employee feels they must risk their health to be a productive member of the team. We’re committed to promoting and implementing robust safety measures in the workplaces we serve. As evidence, we’ve won the American Staffing Association/National Safety Council’s Safety Standard of Excellence mark seven years and counting!

To explore how effective safety practices can become a natural part of the workplace, we spoke with Sara Frassinelli, the director of marketing and employee engagement for Spherion offices in Bethlehem, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Reading, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This network of Spherion offices, owned and operated by the Frassinelli family, won Spherion’s annual Safety Excellence Award for growing their business by more than 10% in 2022 while reducing workplace accidents to an all-time low. Sara delves into the significance of workplace safety and discusses how their team has developed specific solutions to encourage clients to improve safety standards.

The Importance of Workplace Safety

“Workplace safety is fundamentally important as we are talking about human lives and not machinery,” Frassinelli says. Workplace safety practices safeguard the well-being and lives of employees. A safe working environment significantly reduces the risk of accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. By implementing effective safety protocols, employers can protect their most valuable assets—their employees—and foster a culture of care and respect.

Furthermore, workplace safety enhances productivity and operational efficiency. When employees feel secure in their working environment, they can focus on their tasks without the distraction of potential hazards. Reduced accidents and injuries translate into fewer disruptions, lower absenteeism rates, and increased overall productivity.

Spherion's Approach to Improving Workplace Safety

To encourage our clients to prioritize workplace safety, the Frassinellis have developed comprehensive solutions and processes. Before placing any candidate in a client's organization, their team conducts thorough site visits. “We bring our Safety Manager along to provide an additional set of eyes and expertise. This allows us to identify potential hazards and make appropriate recommendations to our clients,” Sara stated.

Additionally, they have implemented mandatory Work Site Surveys for every site they visit. These surveys ensure that all safety aspects are carefully evaluated and addressed. By proactively identifying risks and taking preventive measures, they create safer work environments and minimize the occurrence of accidents.

Continuous Safety Improvement and Commitment

Spherion’s commitment to workplace safety goes beyond minimum compliance. Nationwide, we employ 25 safety managers who work with our franchise owners in a safety consulting role. These managers visit Spherion worksites to observe working conditions and ensure all applicable safety regulations are followed and that employees have completed all necessary safety training and feel confident about their personal safety on the job. Additionally, Spherion’s safety managers stay abreast of new safety-related regulations and recommended practices to advise clients about better ways to protect employees.

Over the years, the Frassinellis’ worksite evaluation process has continuously evolved and improved. “We firmly believe that every individual deserves a safe and secure workplace,” Sara explained. “Consequently, we prioritize the safety of our employees and refuse to engage with clients where safety concerns persist, regardless of the potential business opportunity.”

Tangible Results and Lasting Benefits

Focusing on workplace safety has yielded significant results for Spherion. “We have witnessed a remarkable year-over-year reduction in the total number of claims filed by our employees. Our light industrial incident frequency declined from 9.61 in 2021 to 4.08 in 2022,” Sara said. “This reduction directly translates into a decrease in the costs associated with injuries per incident. And, we achieved this reduction in accidents while growing business by more than 10% to 441,000 hours of light industrial payroll last year. By investing in safety measures and fostering a culture of prevention, we have not only protected lives but also improved our bottom line.”

Moreover, our emphasis on workplace safety has profoundly impacted employee and client satisfaction. When employees feel safe and valued, their job satisfaction increases, leading to higher retention rates. Similarly, clients appreciate our commitment to their workforce's well-being, resulting in stronger and more long-lasting partnerships.

A Tradition of Selling, Servicing, and Partnering with Risk in Mind

Workplace safety should be a top priority for every organization because it directly affects the lives and well-being of employees. At Spherion worksites across our entire network of 218+ locations, we recognize the significance of workplace safety and have developed effective solutions to encourage our clients to improve safety standards. 

The Frassinellis, along with all local Spherion offices, work diligently with the corporate risk team to develop solutions that allow clients to make work modifications to minimize or eliminate risks, continuing our tradition of selling, servicing and partnering with risk in mind. 

By implementing robust safety measures, we have not only reduced incident rates but also experienced greater employee and client satisfaction, along with improved bottom-line revenue. Together, we’ll continue to prioritize workplace safety, creating environments where everyone can thrive and feel protected.