What are some of the best ways to improve workplace safety for frontline teams?

According to the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), the answer isn’t just about rules. It’s about culture, communication, and innovation. That’s the big takeaway from this year’s Safety Innovation and Culture Improvement Awards, which honored Metallus, Steel Services, Inc., and Worthington Steel for redefining what safety looks like in industrial settings.

Here’s what they did right and what HR and Operations leaders can borrow to create safer, more engaged frontline workplaces.

1. Worthington Steel: Safety goes beyond physical hazards

Award: Safety Innovation Award

Why it matters: Worthington Steel’s THRIVE program includes a layer that many safety programs overlook: mental health.

More than 450 employees completed mental health training. Facilities host speakers and publish resources regularly, all integrated into daily operations.

Takeaway for frontline leaders: Safety doesn’t stop at PPE. Including emotional and mental wellbeing in your safety strategy can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and drive retention—especially in high-pressure environments.

2. Steel Services, Inc.: Incentives and inclusion

Award: Safety Culture Improvement Award

Why it matters: By partnering with OnPoint Industrial Safety Services, Steel Services slashed its incident rates and established a Safety and Culture Incentive Program where employees now help shape the safety culture themselves.

TRIR dropped from 12.29 to 8.66. The number of reportable incidents went down significantly, and the number of serious injuries that caused people to miss work was cut nearly in half.

Takeaway: Safety culture sticks when it’s owned by employees, not just imposed by leadership.

3. Metallus: Safety meets hands-on learning

Award: Safety Culture Improvement Award

Why it matters: In collaboration with the United Steelworkers union, Metallus launched StandUP for Safety, a program that engaged over 1,100 employees using real-world hazard simulations.

Result: Near-miss reporting up 54%, and positive safety observations up 60%.

Takeaway: Empowering employees with hands-on safety education and co-created initiatives builds trust and ensures better buy-in. The more employees feel ownership, the safer the workplace becomes.

How do you scale this?

With tools like WorkStep, frontline organizations can move from reactive to proactive safety management. Continuous listening helps uncover site-specific risks in real time, while AI-powered insights surface the root causes of unsafe conditions before they lead to costly injuries.

If you’re a frontline leader looking to build a culture of “Zero Harm,” remember: Safety is not a program, it’s a practice. One that starts with listening and ends with action.