With a workforce of one million spread across a global network of warehouses and delivery routes, maintaining the highest standards of health and safety presents a monumental challenge. We’re speaking with a leader at the forefront of this effort, a procurement expert managing a $200 billion budget dedicated to protecting people. Today, we’ll explore the sophisticated, data-driven strategies transforming safety at an unprecedented scale, from the development of customized protective gear and the use of predictive analytics to manage a vast supply chain, to the innovative ways employee feedback is harnessed to create a safer work environment for everyone.
Your team makes data-driven decisions for sourcing personal protective equipment. Could you walk us through the process, from identifying a specific hazard like finger injuries to the development and implementation of a solution like the ‘Impact Glove’?
It all starts with the data. We analyze incident reports across our operations to pinpoint recurring issues, and finger injuries were a clear area for improvement. But data is just the beginning; the human element is crucial. If workers don’t like a piece of PPE, they simply won’t use it, so we set an extremely high bar for quality and comfort. For the ‘Impact Glove,’ we didn’t just find an off-the-shelf product. We worked in partnership with our suppliers, using our scale to engage demand and drive innovation, to create enhanced hand protection that our teams would actually want to wear. It’s a tangible result of listening to the data and our people.
With a goal of becoming a safety benchmark and a reported 6% fall in injuries this year, what specific initiatives have been most effective? Could you share an example of a change that significantly impacted both warehouse operations and your commercial vehicle fleet?
Our guiding principle is “Safety first, people always,” and that philosophy is the root of our success. The 6% reduction in injuries this year is a testament to a holistic approach rather than one single initiative. In the warehouse, the introduction of better equipment like the ‘Impact Glove’ is a perfect example of a targeted solution. For our commercial fleet, it’s about using technology to provide real-time support. Our driver app, for instance, doesn’t just navigate; it proactively warns them about severe weather on their route or even alerts them to known aggressive dogs at a delivery location. These seemingly small interventions, both inside and on the road, add up to create a much safer environment and reduce time off work, which benefits everyone.
Managing PPE across numerous countries with varying standards must be complex. How do you leverage predictive analytics to forecast demand and avoid stock-outs?
It is incredibly complex, but predictive analytics is our key to managing it. We operate globally, and every country has its own health and safety standards. To handle this, we collect vast amounts of data on the demand and consumption of every single PPE item, from boots to gloves. This allows us to build robust forecasting models. We can normalize the data based on international standards, giving us a unified view despite local variations. With a network of over 2500 suppliers, our system constantly checks inventory levels and spots risks, because having a stock-out is simply not an option when people’s safety is on the line.
Employee feedback is clearly a priority, generating 130,000 submissions a year through the ‘Dragon Fly’ tool. How do you effectively process that volume of data? Could you describe the journey of an employee’s idea from local submission to global analysis and implementation?
We treat our employees like our customers; their insights are invaluable. An idea starts at the local level. An employee on the warehouse floor might submit a suggestion through our ‘Dragon Fly’ tool about a particular safety vest or a process that feels risky. That input is first managed by their local site leadership, who can often implement immediate changes. But it doesn’t stop there. That data point is also fed into our global dataset. Our central analytics team then sifts through those 130,000 annual submissions, looking for trends and recurring themes. An idea from one person in one facility could highlight a systemic issue, leading to a global policy change or a new piece of equipment for everyone.
On-site PPE vending machines have reportedly cut costs by 30% through reduced waste. Can you elaborate on how this system works and what the data from these machines reveals about employee behavior and PPE usage patterns?
The vending machines are a fantastic example of a simple idea with a massive impact. Each employee uses their RFID badge to access the machine, which dispenses the specific PPE they need. This immediately reduces waste because people take only what is necessary, rather than grabbing a handful of gloves from an open box. The data we get is just as valuable as the cost savings. Our dashboard shows us exactly what’s being used, when, and by which teams. If we see that one type of glove is being dispensed far more than another, it tells us which products are preferred and most effective. This data allows us to refine our inventory, improve distribution on-site, and ensure the most popular and effective gear is always available.
Beyond in-warehouse safety, you’re also equipping drivers with tools like extra lighting and app-based warnings for weather or aggressive dogs. How do you measure the effectiveness of these real-time safety interventions, and what has been the most impactful feature for driver well-being?
We measure effectiveness by tracking incident data before and after implementation. For instance, we can correlate the rollout of extra lighting for drivers with a reduction in slips, trips, and falls during hours of darkness. Similarly, we can track incident reports involving animals or weather-related accidents. While it’s hard to single out one feature, the feedback on the aggressive dog warnings has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s a very specific, real-world threat that drivers face daily. Giving them that heads-up feels personal and shows we understand the unique challenges of their job, which significantly boosts their sense of security and well-being on the road.
What is your forecast for health and safety in the logistics industry?
I believe the future is about moving from reactive to predictive safety. It’s no longer enough to just respond to incidents. The industry will increasingly rely on advanced analytics and AI to anticipate risks before they ever lead to an injury. We’ll see more smart PPE that can monitor fatigue or environmental hazards, and more integrated systems that use data from employee feedback, equipment sensors, and external sources like weather patterns to create a live, dynamic risk map of the entire supply chain. The goal will be to solve problems before they even happen, making the workplace inherently safer by design.
