Raytheon has a strong commitment to protect its workers, with an ultimate goal of an injury-free workplace.
The company's corporate responsibility report affirms this undertaking, stating: "We owe our people a safe environment where they can work comfortably and avoid risks that can lead to injuries. The investments we've made to our safety programs have made us more competitive, more productive and even more focused on health and safety."
Raytheon's EHS programs are core values that are engrained in all work activities, driven by a strong commitment from top-level management, says Paul Zybert, senior EHS director.
"Our leaders and employees at all levels are actively involved and held accountable for fulfilling these responsibilities," he explains. "Nowhere is Raytheon's principle of respect more evident than in its comprehensive array of programs to ensure employees' safety, promote health and wellness, and help employees and families balance work and home commitments."
As part of Raytheon's business model, heavy emphasis is placed on OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), and a Raytheon EHSS manager has served on the National Voluntary Protection Program Participants' Association (VPPPA) board of directors for the last seven years.
The company strives to continually implement programs and innovations that promote the safety and wellness of its workers. This is evidenced through its leading number of OSHA VPP Star-certified sites. Approximately 78% of domestic employees work at company locations that have received the safety status.
One of Raytheon's sites in Dallas boasts an injury and illness incident rate 69% below the average and has a 93% lower lost work day rate. Raytheon achieved this low injury rate through such measures as an increased emphasis on ergonomics, improved ventilation systems for manufacturing processes, training on hazard recognition and the presentation of weekly safety topics.
In February 2018, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta visited this VPP-certified site and Tweeted: "During a visit today to @Raytheon in Dallas, we discussed the company's participation in the @OSHA_DOL Voluntary Protection Program. Thank you @Raytheon for working collaboratively with your employees to go above and beyond in creating a safe and healthy workplace."