“No one wants to see their workforce injured. We do what we can to prevent injuries and Beacon has been very helpful in that. We have taken a lot from what Beacon has to offer in helping us grow our (safety) culture,” said Bob Bacon, Owner of Gregg’s Restaurant.

“We’ve helped Gregg’s promote workplace safety throughout the years through our loss prevention service visits with the senior management team. That allows us to determine services that will help them provide a safe and helpful workplace," said Lester Poole, Senior Loss Prevention Consultant at Beacon.

The Ingredient List

Safety Culture

Gregg's has created a strong safety culture by prioritizing the safety of its employees and customers.

“Safety is built into the process from how to use the machines to wearing the proper safety equipment that may pertain to one’s job. There is also literature around the building about how to lift, how to bend, and how to keep yourself safe while working. We like to reinforce all of that when working,” said Raymond Vanasse (Skip), Gregg’s Bakery Supervisor and forty-five year Gregg’s employee.

Safety Training

Gregg’s has also implemented a safety training program for all employees, which includes regular safety meetings and on-the-job training. This training ensures that all employees are aware of potential hazards and know how to prevent accidents. Gregg's also encourages its employees to report any unsafe conditions or incidents immediately, which allows the restaurant to quickly address any issues.

“Beacon provides services to restaurants such as Gregg’s in terms of safety training. We can come on-site and train employees. They (employees) can also come to Beacon for safety seminars. We have Beacon University which is a remote way of learning for a lot of employees that can’t take the time from work to come into Beacon for safety training,” said Lori Wall, Ergonomic Consultant at Beacon.

Safety Committees

Gregg's has also formed safety committees that are responsible for monitoring and improving the restaurant's safety practices. These committees are made up of employees from different departments, including management, bakery and kitchen staff, and servers. This allows for a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to be considered when improving safety practices. The committees conduct regular safety audits and inspections to identify potential hazards and recommend improvements.

Continuous Improvement

“Our culture of continuous improvement comes from management down, like branches of a tree. It truly is a culture," said Vanasse. "This commitment to continuous improvement has allowed Gregg's to maintain a high level of safety and prevent accidents."

Gregg's is committed to continuously improving its safety practices. They regularly review their safety policies and procedures to ensure they are up-to-date and effective. Additionally, they use data and feedback from Beacon’s safety representatives to identify areas for improvement and implement changes.

Vanasse continued, “Every day is an opportunity to be careful and to know that you have the support of management, our HR department, and Beacon Mutual if the necessity arises. A safe work environment is a happier work environment and much more productive. It’s all about teamwork”.

Return-to-Work/Stay-at-Work Program

“No one wants to see their workforce injured. We do what we can to prevent injuries and Beacon has been very helpful in that through the training that they do. When we do have an injury, our focus is on getting the injured worker taken care of and back to work as soon as they are willing and able,” said Bacon.

With the help of Beacon’s Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work team, Gregg’s has been able to retain their most valuable resource, their employees. Beacon has helped Gregg’s implement transitional and modified duty for injured workers.

“Beacon is great in the support in helping our employees get back to work. They’re on top of everything, they answer all of our questions. No question is a silly question. They reach out to our employees and help our employees get all the help that they may need whether it is doctors or physical therapy,” said Amanda Lento, Gregg's Human Resource Manager.

What Other Restaurants & Hospitality Companies Can Learn from Gregg's

“I believe other companies can learn to utilize Beacon in bringing in the preventative measures, looking at the jobs, seeing things you can fix so that in the long run, you don’t have the problems and you can avoid the injuries," said Lento.

By following Gregg's safety success recipe, restaurants and hospitality companies can follow suit and prioritize safety for both employees and customers. This can be achieved by implementing a stay-at-work/return-to-work program, committing to continuous improvement, providing regular training and encouraging employees to report any unsafe conditions. Furthermore, it is important to establish safety committees and regularly review safety practices to identify potential hazards and recommend improvements for a stronger safety culture.