Throughout the remainder of the year, we’re bringing you the inspiring stories of our 2023 Safety Award Nominees. In this installment, Rachel Mallory, Director of Safety at TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, updates us on TOTE’s Speak Up, Shout Out! program and how a robust Stop Work culture can save lives.
As we delve into their stories, we are reminded of the strength and determination that permeates every aspect of our Saltchuk community. By spotlighting these outstanding individuals, we celebrate the collaborative spirit that defines us and inspires us to elevate safety standards across our organization.
In 2021, TOTE launched its Speak Up, Take Action program to drive a company culture committed to communication and transparency without fear of retaliation.
“Every employee at TOTE—regardless of rank, role, or tenure—is expected to speak up and take action if they have a question or concern,” said Rachel Mallory, Director of Safety at TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico (TMPR).
The following year, TOTE built upon its initial success, launching Speak Up, Shout Out!, which was designed to amplify the message further.
“The Speak Up, Shout Out! program is intended to acknowledge those who act in a manner that aligns with the spirit and goals of speaking up and taking action. This can be around ethics, compliance, safety, or anything that elevates an opportunity for improvement within the TOTE Group family of companies,” Mallory continued. “Ultimately, TOTE values and encourages open, honest, advocative communication, and it’s important to us that we provide a safe, non-judgmental place for employees to share ideas that empower them to report misconduct and raise concerns. We wanted to break down the barriers that prevent a speak-up culture from thriving, like fear of retaliation.”
Mallory celebrated 11 years with TMPR this past November. She started in the Booking Department before moving to operations. As the company’s equipment manager, she oversaw the maintenance and repair of TMPR’s entire fleet.
In her current role, she’s drawn from her experience on both sides of the business. She saw firsthand how a robust Stop Work culture can save lives.
“I like to refer to it as ‘Stop Work Responsibility’ because, as it relates to safety, if you see it, you own it. All employees must be personally responsible and accountable for workplace safety. Still, for this to happen, they must feel empowered and comfortable reporting unsafe conditions and providing suggestions for improvement without fear of retaliation, intimidation, harassment, or discrimination. Without the Stop Work culture, employees will react rather than proactively stop a risk they see. We’d much rather them stop the operation than become a witness to an injury or, worse, a fatality.”
Mallory said a strong safety culture has the single greatest impact on accident reduction of any workplace practice.
“I’m sure the specifics of what makes a strong safety culture look different across industries and professions, but, for me, a strong safety culture fosters open communication from the top down and from the bottom up. Our people are our greatest assets, so communication is foundational when building a safety culture. Clear and transparent safety communications have a significant impact on making employees feel protected at work and building mutual trust.
“Building a safety culture is a continuous process. We’re always looking for ways to move the needle forward regarding safety, and it takes all of us to do that. I don’t have a huge safety team, but I joke that the entire company is my team because safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
