World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 5 ways we ensure safety in our operations

World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated each year on 28th of April. The purpose of this day is to highlight the importance of occupational safety and to respect everyone’s right to a safe working environment. To mark the occasion, our EHQS Manager Risto Holopainen, who has been part of Nurminen for 24 years, shares in this article five ways in which we ensure safety at work.

“Our goal is clear: zero workplace accidents and make sure that everyone gets home healthy after the workday. This is not just a goal on paper for us – it is something that is genuinely reflected in our everyday work,” says Risto Holopainen, EHQS Manager.

1.Certificates reflect clear standards

Nurminen Logistics holds the ISO 45001 certification, which is the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems. The certification is audited annually and demonstrates the company’s commitment to continuously improving the working environment as well as the safety and health of its employees.

Another example of a safety-related certification is the SQAS certification (Safety and Quality Assessment for Sustainability), which Nurminen Logistics has had for around 20 years. SQAS assesses the quality and safety of logistics companies and chemical suppliers. Nurminen Logistics has strong expertise in the transportation and storage of dangerous goods, with safety as a top priority at our chemical terminal.

Certifications set clear standards for all operations, ensuring the safety of both employees and the goods being handled.

2.Hazard and risk assessment

At company level, hazard and risk assessments are carried out regularly for all employees. Based on these assessments, site-specific action plans are created to ensure that local risks are identified, managed and corrected.

At Nurminen Logistics, business‑specific risk assessments and change management are also carried out as a continuous process. This is reflected in the planning of all new operations. One example highlighted by Holopainen is the planning of a new cargo handling operation at the Vuosaari logistics centre, which was carried out in close cooperation with the customer and partners, also from a safety perspective. As part of the planning process, traffic routes were redesigned to ensure that operations are both efficient and safe.

3.Equipment maintenance

Nurminen Logistics carries out some of the most demanding project transports and handles heavy cargo. These operations require specialized equipment, which is always maintained and serviced by trained professionals.

At our heavy handling hall in Vuosaari, Helsinki, we use, among other equipment, an overhead crane with a lifting capacity of 120 tonnes. The crane and all other equipment are serviced and inspected regularly, lifting accessories are checked separately, and each piece of machinery has its own maintenance programme. Well‑maintained and regularly inspected equipment is an essential part of creating a safe working environment.

4.Continuous training for employees

Nurminen Logistics employs approximately 200 logistics professionals, and staff competence is maintained through regular training sessions and drills. As an example, Holopainen highlights our chemical terminal, where both external and internal exercises and training are organized focusing on chemical and product safety.

Risto Holopainen: “At Nurminen Logistics, you can trust that every type of cargo is handled with the level of professional expertise it requires.”

5.Safety Walks

At Nurminen Logistics’ logistics centres, safety is ensured through regular Safety Walk inspections, and in day-to-day operations managers and supervisors also carry out their own inspection rounds.

Safety Walks are a key element of safety management and risk control. Their main objective is to audit and ensure different aspects of safety while also developing safety awareness and attitudes.

Why should occupational safety be considered when choosing a logistics partner?

Occupational safety is not only in the interest of the company itself, but also of customers and stakeholders. Taking care of occupational safety ensures safe, on-schedule transport operations and reliable logistics services.

“Safety is an integral part of our responsibility. We develop supply chain safety in close cooperation with our customers, share safety-related observations transparently, and continuously seek new ways to strengthen safety throughout the entire transport chain. With us, safety is not just about meeting requirements – it is about shared, continuous improvement,” emphasizes Risto Holopainen, EHQS Manager.

At Nurminen Logistics, we take care of the entire transport chain and ensure its safe operation at every stage. Explore our wide range of logistics solutions on our website!