This month, we’re celebrating National Safety Month by continuing our commitment to safety: Putting safety at the center of our work. For us, safety isn’t something we focus on only one month of the year. It’s a commitment to each other that promises: “No one gets hurt on my shift.”
And it’s working: Rytec has reached over 500 safe days since the last recordable incident – the longest period in company history without a recorded injury.
That’s something to celebrate this month and every month!
How We Delivered Our Safest Year Yet!
So…how’d we do it? We made safety part of our culture. Since joining the Nucor family in 2024, Rytec has embraced CEO Leon Topalian’s guiding principle: “The greatest measure of our culture is how we care for one another through the value of safety.”
More than Paint on the Floor. Dedicated pedestrian walkways throughout the plant separate foot traffic from cranes and forklifts. Brightly colored floor markings clearly identify where teammates should and should not walk, helping reduce the likelihood of accidents in high-traffic production areas. For us, it’s more than paint on the floor. It’s a reflection of a larger commitment to protecting each other, every day.
As Scott Planey, Operations Manager at Rytec, explains:
“We are installing new equipment in Building #3 of Hartford. As we are rearranging the existing workstations, we are using the opportunity to design the building so that powered lift trucks and pedestrian traffic are separated.”
STOP: Empowering Teammates to Take Action. The STOP protocol gives every employee the authority to intervene when they identify a concern.
- Stop work immediately
- Team up with others
- Obtain a safe plan
- Proceed only when safe
In the first half of 2026, we’ve logged 69 STOP events – and no injuries.
Transparent Communication. At Rytec and Nucor, we believe effective communication is crucial for creating a safe work environment. Safety is talked about often, tracked closely and shared in real time throughout our organization.
As Jared Smith, operations manager at Rytec’s Hartford facility, said: “We’re getting people involved in safety awareness by having daily and weekly conversations about it. It helps them keep safety in mind in their day-to-day routine.”
- Daily reports, team discussions and prominent shop floor displays help reinforce awareness and accountability in real time.
- To keep everyone informed and engaged, a daily email is shared companywide informing teammates of any new incidents, near-miss or STOP events, as well as safety statistics for each department.
- Daily Tool Box Talks and Potential Serious Injury and Fatality (PSIF) meetings help keep safety top of mind at the start of every shift, and every team member understands the risks and expectations before work begins. By taking a few minutes each day to discuss hazards, procedures and previous potential safety incidents, we strengthen our safety culture and help everyone return home safely at the end of each day.
As a result, our people are more comfortable speaking up and stepping in when something doesn’t look right. “People here feel comfortable going to their leaders with ideas, and they will listen to them and possibly turn it into action. I think that’s the biggest thing driving our safety performance this year,” said operations manager Scott Planey.
Red Lines. We implemented five “Red Lines” to ensure we never have a severe injury or fatality at Rytec.
Investing in Technology. We purchased new technology for safety improvements, including:
- Lift-assist, heavy-duty jib cranes were installed in areas requiring heavy lifting, prompted by a teammate’s suggestion
- New fall protection equipment for any work performed at four feet or higher
- A smoke and mist collection system was added after a teammate flagged air quality issues from a machining center, which also improved efficiency and extended tool life
Sharing Best Practices. Rytec and other Nucor companies actively share safety best practices with one another. When colleagues from other divisions tour a Rytec plant, they provide safety suggestions based on their own experiences, and vice versa. “We’re not only learning from our own experiences, we’re broadening it and learning from 33,000 Nucor teammates. It allows us to consider ways to prevent similar incidents from happening at our facility,” said Don Arnold, operations manager at Rytec’s Jackson facility.
Rigorous Safety Standards. Safety isn’t just for Rytec employees – it’s for everyone in our building. Contractor and visitor requirements have become more rigorous. Annual safety and environmental training is mandatory, and site access is restricted for anyone who is not up to date on their training. In addition, updated PPE requirements require anyone entering production areas to wear safety glasses, safety shoes, a bump cap or hard hat, and cut-level 3 gloves.
Celebrating a Clean Safety Record
Rytec recently received Nucor’s 2025 Gold Award for Safety, which recognizes exceptional performance based on Injury & Illness (I&I) and Days Away, Restricted time or Transferred (DART) rates. Even more exciting, we’re currently on track to achieve the Platinum Award in 2026 – a distinction that requires zero recordable injuries.
Whether it’s completing a safety-themed word search, attending fire extinguisher training or getting fitted for new safety shoes at the onsite shoe truck, there are opportunities for everyone at Rytec to get involved in National Safety Month and play an important role in maintaining a safe workplace.
Let’s make June a reminder that safety starts with each of us every day of the year!
