Congratulations to our incredible team in Tualatin, OR, on reaching 1,000 consecutive days without a recordable injury, lost-time injury or vehicle accident!
This outstanding achievement reflects the care, commitment, and teamwork our employees bring to work every day. As a packaged gas fill plant serving medical, food-grade, and industrial customers, safety guides everything we do, from filling and handling cylinders to preparing deliveries and putting our trucks on the road.
With more than 20 employees and eight trucks on the road daily, this milestone represents thousands of safe decisions made inside the plant, in the warehouse, during deliveries, and behind the wheel.
For the Tualatin team, safety is more than a set of procedures. It is a culture built through leadership, employee engagement, and a willingness to do the right thing every day.
“Safety starts at the top and filters down. There are no shortcuts,” said Kurt Smith, Packaged Gas Driver, who has 11 years with Nippon Sanso Matheson. “Samantha has created a deeply entrenched safety culture that wasn’t always focused on here in Tualatin. Her management has brought on a welcomed stability and an inviting place to work.”
Smith also pointed to the team’s participation in daily safety practices as an important part of the culture. “The team engagement is commendable, with everyone taking part in toolbox talks,” he said. “You know safety has been deeply ingrained when you count to three in your personal car at a stop sign.”
He added that employees have the support and resources they need to work safely, saying, “I’ve never been turned down when needing new safety equipment or PPE or cylinder carts. In short, Samantha walks the talk. The 1,000-day club is earned, not given.”
That commitment is echoed by Jim Graves, Cylinder Handler/Loader, who has nine years with Nippon Sanso Matheson. Graves said the company’s investment in employees and willingness to listen to their ideas have made a meaningful difference.
“I have worked many different places over the years, but a few things really stand out about working at Nippon Sanso Matheson. First is that it’s clear they care about us. They take care of our uniforms, boots, PPE, and tools,” Graves said. “The next is how my ideas are never dismissed. It’s nice to work somewhere where I can bring up an idea, and it leads to a team conversation instead of just being ignored and told to get the job done.”
For Graves, that open communication is closely connected to safety. “The last thing is the clear safety mindset and that Nippon Sanso Matheson promotes from within,” he said. “I’ve seen many of my co-workers go on to do other things because of the knowledge they have. It gives people the motivation to stay safe and learn everything they can.”
Yorich Poole, Chemist, who has three years with Nippon Sanso Matheson, summed up the mindset behind the milestone simply: “I had never worked a job where ‘just get it done’ wasn’t the motto. At Nippon Sanso Matheson, it has and always will be ‘Do the right thing.’ I am grateful for my teammates and the culture we built, making this possible each and every day.”
1,000 days don’t happen by accident. It takes consistency, focus, and a shared commitment to following procedures, inspecting equipment, staying aware of our surroundings, driving safely, and speaking up when something doesn’t look right. Most importantly, it takes a team that understands getting the job done safely is just as important as getting the job done.
At the heart of this milestone is something simple and meaningful: people going home safely at the end of every shift.
This achievement belongs to every member of our Tualatin team, past and present, who has helped build and maintain this strong safety culture. Their commitment demonstrates how employee engagement, strong leadership, proper safety resources, and a shared responsibility for one another can contribute to safe, reliable operations.
Thank you to the entire Tualatin team for your continued commitment and care.
Congratulations on 1,000 days of safe operations! Let’s keep looking out for one another, staying focused, and making safety a priority every day.
