WR Systems O/M Crew Leader I Josh Setzer holds a Job Safety Briefing before the crew installs a water main.
What happens when employees are given a meaningful way to speak up, learn from one another, and help prevent incidents before they happen?
According to the recent Lighthouse sustainability survey, the answer is clear -- stronger communication, better awareness, and a safety culture built around employees actively looking out for one another.
The survey was shared with employees across all operating departments, plant personnel, and administrative areas. Respondents said Lighthouse keeps safety visible, encourages honest peer-to-peer conversations, and helps employees recognize exposures and remove barriers before they lead to an incident. Employees also value the opportunity to visit other work areas, learn how different jobs are performed, and build stronger connections across departments.
The feedback also gave the Lighthouse group a clear roadmap for continued improvement. Employees asked for more education, broader sharing of lessons learned, continued leadership support, better technology and reporting tools, and enough time and resources to conduct meaningful observations. Most importantly, respondents were not asking for a complete overhaul. They want the organization to build on what is already working.
In the upcoming year, the Lighthouse group will focus on education and barrier removal to make the process even more useful, accessible, and meaningful. That includes helping employees better understand the purpose of Lighthouse; strengthening observation and safety conversation skills; and addressing obstacles involving time, resources, communication, and technology.
Thank you to everyone who shared feedback and to every employee who continues to turn a Lighthouse observation into a conversation, a learning opportunity, and a safer way to work.
– Submitted by Kelly Smith, Safety Culture Specialist
