A couple of weeks ago we posted our first “B” Stands for “Benefit Corporation” blog, and we promised a second. In our first we let the readers know about our efforts on behalf of the environment. We’ve done a lot of work in that area and we do it with gratitude that we can. We love our beautiful, shared Earth and consider the environment a stakeholder in our business decisions.
In this second report we will make clear that the environment is not the only stakeholder in our B Corporation. We have a commitment to our employees, and we are proud to share with readers the respect we have for these stakeholders and our actions on their behalf.
Warehouse Safety at AMS
Employee safety is not a new concern for AMS. We have had a focus on safety from the beginning, because the bottom line is we care about our employees and we don’t want anyone injured in our warehouses. Our concern for safety is written in policies and procedures to ensure that workplace requirements are met. Some of these policies and procedures are common to all businesses and warehouses, and some go beyond the norm, indicating that at AMS, our concerns for safety are truly meant to protect our valued employees. We provide what others do, and then we provide more.
Procedures & Policies
*Appoint a manager with sufficient seniority who is responsible for implementing procedures.
*Communicate and train employees and other workers, including managers and supervisors, on relevant policies and procedures.
*Monitor the effectiveness of procedures to meet policy and workplace requirements.
Health & Safety
The facility has established procedures and policies included in the employee handbook regarding “Health & Safety” to ensure workplace requirements are met. Regular internal audits are conducted to verify that the requirements are relevant and met.
*AMS has appointed the Health & Safety Director who is responsible for implementing the management system.
*Relevant policies are communicated during orientation training with signed acknowledgment.
*Controls are in place in the form of training and communication to prevent accidents and injuries and to the health of the workers due to any unsafe working conditions.
*AMS is in the process of conducting a risk assessment for each position.
*AMS maintains all required certificates, inspections, permits, and records.
Safety Committee
AMS maintains a safety committee consisting of management and nonmanagement personnel. Health and Safety committee representatives from the workforce were chosen on a voluntary basis, as confirmed by both employees and management during interviews. The safety committee members from the workers’ side confirm that they can openly discuss with management and other employees about any issue. The safety committee members also confirmed that there is no issue of discrimination for being a member of the safety committee. The safety committee holds monthly meetings. The output of the meeting is communicated through a noticeboard.
Provisions and Inspections
Employees are trained during orientation and refresher training is provided annually including: Fire Extinguisher, Blood Borne Pathogen Training, Hazcom Training, Forklift Operator training / certifications, First Aid/CPR Training.
AMS is equipped with first aid kits that are sufficient in number. First aid boxes are checked weekly. Regarding PPE, all workers are issued the required steel toed boots at no cost.
AMS has an accident/ investigation and an OSHA reporting system by using 300, 300 A to record all accidents.
AMS does not restrict workers from leaving or stopping working when there is imminent danger at risk.
AMS has an Emergency Action Plan: Filed with CERS 10/29/24 cert# 10867204.
All AMS facilities have ample emergency exits, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers, all of which have up to date inspection tags including Fire Extinguisher Annual inspections: AXES Fire Corp January 2025.
In addition, we provide: / *Fire Extinguisher Monthly Inspections. /*Emergency Lighting PM. /*Eyewash Station Testing conducted on a weekly basis. / *An adequate number of eyewash stations available throughout every site with weekly inspections done. /*Pre-Shift Forklift inspections done per the requirement. /*Every facility conducts fire drills on all shifts. /*All machinery is properly installed and used safely. /*All chemicals are stored with Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Chemical-related trainings. /*Each site ensures and provides clean toilets and filters potable drinking water for employees.
Warehouse Hazards
How can people get injured in a warehouse? Well, here are a few of the potential hazards:
#1 – Slips, trips, and falls: To combat this possibility we keep our work areas well-lit and free of hazards. And we keep the floors clean and dry. We also encourage employees to wear appropriate footwear.
#2 – Ergonomic injuries: We train our employees on how to safely lift items, and not attempt to lift something too heavy or cumbersome. Mechanical lifting equipment should always be used when needed.
#3 – Vehicle accidents: We properly maintain all of our vehicles used in the warehouses, and our drivers are properly trained and licensed. They are also given adequate breaks.
#4 – Exposure to hazardous materials: This is a vital safety area. Workers whose job requires handling hazardous materials, are given training on safe handling and are provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
With regard to ergonomics, there is an additional concern. Some of our tasks require repetitive movement. We design our tasks to fit the worker but we also train employees in the best methods of avoiding strain on the body. We believe that with proper training and attention, strain can be avoided. We consider ergonomic training to be a much-needed safety and wellness program, and we are glad to put an emphasis on it.
Education and Training
Now that we have covered our policies and procedures related to safety in the workplace we will look into how we give our employees opportunities for advancement. One of the things that we are most proud of, and one of the things that brings us the most success, is the free on-campus education and training we offer during work hours.
Around ten years ago AMS set up, at the Valencia campus, a fully equipped classroom in association with the local College of the Canyons. Today the classes are fully utilized by our employees, in person at the Valencia facility and via Zoom to our other facilities. The classes include some college-level subjects, ESL, and some training offerings to expand job skills. We provide the laptops in conference rooms, and we also utilize large screens. Our classes include beginning and advanced courses. When the classroom was first created, the employees named it, “Advance My Skills Learning Center” and it has served to do just that for hundreds of employees.
Mental Health and Health Advocate Support
AMS offers excellent healthcare benefits, and we encourage full use of these benefits for health concerns. Another benefit that we are proud of is our free Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This program offers mental health and other types of counseling and assistance to our employees and their families free of charge. The EAP also includes having access to professional legal assistance. There are tools to help with financial decisions and resources and dependent and elder care resources. All of these as well as help in overcoming substance abuse and other addictions. This program is free and a very helpful plus for our employees.
Happy B Corporation Month
And there we have it! Our second “B” Stands for “Benefit Corporation” report. We are glad to be able to celebrate this commemoratory month with stories that strengthen us. We are doing our best to be a Benefit to the world and we plan to keep on. We’re into being a “B”.
