Martin Engineering Receives Major Safety Award

Martin Engineering, a global leader in bulk material handling technologies and training, has been awarded the RAVS Plus recognition by ISNetworld (ISN), one of the largest global safety compliance groups. 

By receiving the commendation, Martin Engineering has solidified its reputation as a pioneer in modern industrial safety, not just with its products, but also its training seminars, reference books, and service procedures. The result is a culture of safety that the organization can practice and teach to customers, fostering a work environment with fewer risks and injuries.

ISN helps 75,000 contractors and suppliers manage risk and support sustainability, evaluating company safety cultures by collecting and reviewing insurance and other risk management documentation, such as supplier certificates, Workers' Compensation, and financial information. The organization assigns and tracks completion of contractor and supplier employee-level trainings and qualifications required to perform specified tasks to meet client and regulatory requirements, benchmarking contractor performance against industry peers with reporting tools, dashboards, and data analytics.

The RAVS Plus recognition demonstrates to Martin Engineering customers that the organization has undergone a higher level of scrutiny. This internationally recognized designation illustrates to clients and employees that safety is an ingrained part of the company’s culture. As onsite contractors providing consultation, installing equipment, or making service calls, customers have the peace of mind that Martin technicians are fully trained and knowledgeable in the best practices to avoid accidents.

“The entire RAVS Plus process was definitely a team effort,” said Janice Verbeke, global director of people and culture for Martin Engineering. “Everyone involved rallied to make this accomplishment happen. But the foundation of safety had already been established here long before I arrived.”

With the dedication of a safety-focused internal team comprised of Verbeke, Sue Griffith, and Niki Andris, the intensive ISN audit that was conducted as part of the recommendation resulted in zero deficiencies and only a short list of opportunities for improvement. This is also due to the training and knowledge of the field technicians chosen to take part in the audit.

COVID-19 restrictions changed how the traditional in-person audit was conducted. With the help of Andris, five experienced Martin technicians were coordinated. They were chosen from among a variety of industries Martin Engineering serves, from cement production to mining, to take a detailed ISN survey. The survey tested their knowledge of everything from certifications to equipment to ensure all policies, procedures, and training were communicated and properly working as designed.

While the surveys were being conducted, several months of research was being prepared for the organization’s audit interview. Conducted via teleconference, Verbeke and Griffith sat for two hours with an ISN auditor. The audit consisted of a deep dive into safety policies, procedures, compliance, and training at the corporate level.

“Sue and I complemented each other well, with our different knowledge bases,” Verbeke said of the audit. “The questions ranged from overall safety knowledge on OSHA regulations to specific topics of what we do in the field. She provided information on our practices, protocols and equipment used in the field. I provided the safety and regulatory knowledge, training protocols and corporate administrative processes.”