Read more about the ways we promote and maintain occupational safety.
Safety first, every day
Metsä Fibre’s Lappeenranta sawmill has an excellent occupational safety record. We visited the sawmill to learn more about its safety practices.
Text: Maria Latokartano Photos: Mikko Nikkinen
A metal gate opens to allow a timber lorry through. The vehicle drives down the hill slowly and turns into a log yard. Metsä Fibre’s pine sawmill in Lappeenranta, southeastern Finland, has rich traditions. Logs have been processed on this site for 60 years. In 2020, the Lappeenranta sawmill was Metsä Fibre’s safest unit. In 2022, it was selected as the safest mill in the whole of Metsä Group. The assessment included 34 production sites in seven countries. The record number of days with no accidents at the Lappeenranta sawmill is 975. This makes Mill Manager Anssi Meuronen happy for good reason. “This is a great achievement that summarises our most important safety instruction: Safety is always our top priority. If work cannot be carried out safely, it must stop.” Just like any other day at the sawmill, the day of the interview starts with a morning meeting. First up 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.
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