Each August, OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week rolls around as a national campaign to raise awareness about workplace safety and health programs. While its roots are deeply planted in the construction and heavy industrial sectors, this initiative carries just as much value in the world of manufacturing—especially in printing, packaging, and label production.
At Columbine Label, we’ve proudly participated in Safe + Sound Week every year since 2021. For us, it’s more than a check-the-box exercise. It’s an annual reminder that safety doesn’t just happen—it’s built, maintained, and improved through intentional actions and continuous attention. The “sound” part of “safe and sound” resonates with us, because a company that operates safely also operates efficiently, reliably, and ethically. Safety is not only about protecting people (though that’s the most important part)—it’s also a reflection of a company’s culture, values, and long-term thinking.
Safety in Manufacturing: Not Just for Construction Sites
When people think of safety gear and OSHA posters, they often picture scaffolding, hard hats, and fall harnesses. And yes, that’s vital. But what happens inside a label plant, with high-speed presses, die-cutting equipment, hot stamping systems, and chemical-based inks, deserves the same level of vigilance and respect.
The risks might look different in manufacturing, but they’re no less serious:
-
Moving mechanical components can lead to crushing or cutting injuries.
-
Solvents and adhesives can introduce respiratory or skin exposure risks.
-
Ergonomic strain from repetitive tasks or improper lifting takes a toll over time.
-
Slips, trips, and falls are universal across all industries.
That’s why we take a proactive approach year-round—not just during Safe + Sound Week—to keep our team safe and our facility running smoothly.
What Safe + Sound Means to Columbine Label
At Columbine Label, our Safe + Sound Week activities fall into three categories that reflect OSHA’s recommended core elements of a workplace safety and health program: Management Leadership, Worker Participation, and a Systematic Approach to Finding and Fixing Hazards.
Here’s how we translate those principles into action in a label manufacturing setting:
1. Leadership Sets the Tone
Our leadership team doesn’t treat safety as a compliance issue—it’s a commitment. Since 2021, we’ve used Safe + Sound Week as an annual moment to:
-
Review and update our safety policies
-
Reinforce expectations around PPE, equipment operation, and housekeeping
-
Discuss near-miss reports and lessons learned
-
Talk openly about safety culture—not just rules, but attitudes
We also make a point to be visible and involved. When employees see managers taking safety seriously, it sends the clear message that it matters.
2. Team Involvement is Key
One of the most effective aspects of Safe + Sound Week is that it’s designed to be participatory. We actively engage our team in:
-
Safety huddles with rotating key topics of interest
-
Hands-on demos (e.g., using fire extinguishers, ergonomic lifting techniques)
-
Quizzes and challenges with small prizes to make it fun and memorable
We’ve found that giving our team the chance to speak up not only brings attention to issues leadership might miss—it also builds a sense of ownership and accountability.
3. Fix It Before It Breaks (or Hurts)
Safe + Sound Week is also when we kick off our annual internal audit of the plant floor from a safety lens. We inspect:
-
Electrical cords, guards, and outlets
-
Emergency exits and egress paths
-
Signage and labeling on hazardous materials
-
PPE availability and condition
-
Ergonomics at workstations
When our team flags a potential hazard, it gets logged and reviewed—not ignored.
Making Safety a Brand Standard
We’re a label company, so naturally, we think a lot about standards—adhesive standards, color standards, substrate compatibility standards. But none of that matters if we don’t also uphold safety standards.
Why? Because the way a company treats its employees affects everything else: product quality, order accuracy, lead times, customer trust.
Here are a few ways we’ve built safety into our brand DNA:
-
Onboarding: Every new hire at Columbine Label gets safety training within their first 48 hours, including a walkthrough of our safe operating procedures and emergency protocols.
-
Cross-Training: We encourage employees to understand more than just their job—this improves versatility and situational awareness on the floor.
-
Maintenance Protocols: Preventive maintenance isn’t just about machine uptime. It’s also about removing risks before they become problems—like securing loose guards or fixing air leaks.
-
Continuous Improvement: We treat safety feedback the same way we treat customer feedback. If we’re not constantly improving, we’re falling behind.
2025 Safe + Sound Week: Our Focus
Each year, we choose a theme or focus area to guide our Safe + Sound Week activities. For 2025, we’re zeroing in on Situational Awareness and Communication.
Why? Because no matter how many rules we write down or signs we post, the most effective safety tool is a mind that’s paying attention.
Here’s what we’re emphasizing:
-
Stop, Think, Act: Encouraging a mental pause before starting any task, especially one that involves equipment or movement.
-
Look Out for Each Other: Peer-to-peer support helps identify blind spots—literally and figuratively.
-
Speak Up Culture: We want our employees to feel safe talking about safety. That includes flagging a concern, making a suggestion, or saying “wait a second” before something goes wrong.
Safe + Sound Extends Beyond Our Walls
Our commitment to safety doesn’t stop at our loading dock.
We work with vendors, suppliers, and contractors who share our values. When selecting partners—whether it’s for materials, equipment, or logistics—we ask about their safety practices. Because if a supplier consistently puts people at risk, it tells us something about how they’ll handle our orders, too.
We also keep our customers in mind. A well-run, safety-conscious operation leads to:
-
Fewer delays due to accidents or downtime
-
Better quality control from focused, alert operators
-
Lower turnover and more experienced team members
-
Confidence that your labels are made in a facility that cares as much about its people as it does about your brand
Join the Movement
If you’re in manufacturing—whether you’re making candles, seasoning blends, cold brew coffee, or supplements—you may not think of yourself as part of the “safety-first” world like construction or oil & gas. But every production floor is full of motion, material handling, and multitasking. And every team deserves a workplace that values their health and well-being.
Safe + Sound Week is a great time to pause and reflect on how safety fits into your own operations:
-
Are your employees trained on more than just how to do their job, but how to do it safely?
-
Do you treat safety as an occasional topic or a daily habit?
-
When’s the last time someone flagged a potential hazard—and what happened next?
Whether you’re running a multi-site production operation or hand-packing orders out of a shared kitchen, the basics apply. Take care of your team, and they’ll take care of your business.
Final Thoughts
At Columbine Label, we believe that safety and soundness are signs of strength. Participating in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week since 2021 has helped us sharpen our focus, renew our commitment, and build a culture where safety isn’t the job of one person—it’s the mindset of everyone.
To our fellow manufacturers: join us in using this week as more than a formality. Let’s lead by example and show that no matter the size of your facility, the number of your employees, or the volume of your output—a safe shop is a successful one.
Happy Safe + Sound Week!