Faces of Manufacturing | Episode 19 - Safety, Service & Hidden Hazards at Granger Waste Services

Faces of Manufacturing is a newer show to Michigan Business Network. Cindy Kangas, Executive Director, CAMC, Capital Area Manufacturing Council, Lansing, Michigan, co-hosts with Joy Wagner, HR Manager of Granger Waste Services, also Lansing. Cindy and Joy strive to share the corporate culture, personal stories, and unique personalities of those making a living in manufacturing today, in Michigan. With that in mind, this month they connected with several team members of Granger Waste Services. Segment 2 – Company Overview Guest: Paul Anderson, Chief Operating Officer Granger’s History and Mission · Can you start by giving us a brief overview of Granger’s history - how did the company get its start? · What makes Granger’s story unique in the waste services industry? · Granger is a family business at its core. How has that shaped the way the company operates and serves the community? What are Granger’s core values? Core Values: Safety First · Let’s talk about Granger’s core values; why is safety listed first? · Can you give an example of how Granger has prioritized safety in recent operations or projects? · What’s the biggest misconception people have about safety in the waste industry, and how does Granger approach that differently? · How do you keep safety top of mind every day, from leadership down to the front lines? Segment 3 – Safety and Training Guest: Josh Kindy, Safety and Training Manager Safety and Training · Tell us about your role · What are some of the tools or technologies Granger uses to support safety training today? · How do you measure success when it comes to safety training—what are the key indicators you track? · Safety is often associated with drivers and operations teams. How do you ensure safety is embedded across all departments—from HR to accounting to customer · How do you keep safety messaging fresh and relevant for all employees, not just those out in the field? · What advice would you give to other organizations trying to move from “safety as a rule” to “safety as a mindset”? Segment 4 – Frontline Safety in Operations Guest: Brian Looney, Operations Manager – Lansing Safety Training and Protocols for Professional Drivers · Tell us about your role · How do you keep safety front and center for drivers who have been on the job for years? · What are some of the most common risks drivers face, and how does Granger help them manage those risks? · How do you reinforce accountability and safe behavior out on the road—especially when no one is watching? · How do supervisors or lead drivers play a role in reinforcing safety protocols day-to-day? · Let’s talk about the equipment- how does Granger ensure its vehicles are safe and well-maintained? · What types of safety technology are installed in the trucks, and how do they help reduce incidents or near misses? · How does routing software or onboard cameras contribute to both safety and efficiency? · How do you balance using tech as a tool for safety versus it feeling like surveillance or micromanagement? Segment 5 – Waste Acceptance & Hidden Hazards Guest: Serenity Skillman, Construction Manager Risks of Dangerous Items in Trash · Can you start by explaining what “waste acceptance” means and how it relates to the work you do every day? · You’ve said that one of the biggest risks to our people comes from dangerous items hidden in the trash. What are some of the most common offenders? · Why are items like lithium-ion batteries, propane tanks, or chemicals such a serious threat in our waste stream? · Can you walk us through what can happen when these items end up in the wrong place whether it's on a truck, at a landfill, or at a transfer station? · What is Granger doing to educate customers and the community about what shouldn’t go in the trash? · How do our drivers and facility teams detect or respond to hazardous items before they cause harm? · What steps can everyday households take to help protect our people by properly disposing of hazardous items?