SZM has been honoured with the prestigious "Clever Fox – Culture of Prevention" safety award by the German Wood and Metal Employers' Liability Insurance Association. This award recognises companies across Germany that demonstrate a continuous and long-term commitment to improving workplace safety and health beyond isolated measures. In addition to the trophy celebrating a lived culture of prevention, the award also includes a cash prize. SZM's Managing Director, Maik Domel, accepted the honour last week in Bad Muskau.
The Association was particularly impressed by the overall safety concept of the Saxon specialist company for medium-voltage switchgear and retrofitting old systems. SZM ensures a high level of occupational health and safety through a comprehensive bundle of measures aimed at preventing workplace accidents. This is achieved through an exemplary culture of prevention in areas such as leadership, communication, participation, safety climate, and health and safety management.
At SZM, a cooperative leadership style is emphasised, with a strong commitment to continuous training for both employees and management. The company’s leaders actively work to improve workplace safety and health, while transparent communication and comprehensive employee involvement are key elements of their approach. An ideas management system promotes ongoing improvement, and mistakes are viewed as opportunities for optimisation, thereby strengthening the company's safety culture. The positive working atmosphere is characterised by mutual support and appreciation.
The Employers' Liability Insurance Association also praised SZM for embedding health and safety issues firmly into its corporate objectives and guidelines. The Saxon company has been certified for years with the "Safe with System" seal from the BGHM and relies on a consistent occupational safety management system.
Ute Emsel, responsible for awarding the safety prize at the Association, remarked: "SZM is a company where the sense of 'we' and 'together' are deeply embedded in daily operations."
Maik Domel, SZM's Managing Director, added: "For years, we've increasingly focused on occupational safety. What initially started as a customer requirement has turned out to be highly beneficial. The number of workplace accidents and near-misses is now virtually zero. The path we have taken in terms of occupational and health safety is clearly the right one, and now others are recognising it too."
Background:
The safety award from the Wood and Metal Employers' Liability Insurance Association, in categories such as "Clever Fox" and "Clever Fox – Culture of Prevention," honours companies that continuously and systematically improve workplace safety and health protection. The award aims to raise awareness about occupational safety and health while recognising innovative and effective measures in these areas. By honouring such efforts, the BGHM seeks to encourage other companies to take a proactive approach to safety and develop creative solutions that can serve as models for others.
Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen accident prevention, as the award recognises measures that reduce the risk of workplace accidents and create a safe working environment in the long term. Companies that show ongoing commitment to improving occupational safety beyond individual measures can be awarded the "Clever Fox – Culture of Prevention" distinction.
As of 2024, only three companies, including SZM, have received the highest category of the safety award, "Clever Fox – Culture of Prevention," from the Wood and Metal Employers' Liability Insurance Association.
Your SZM contact person for news:
⇒ Thomas Schulz, Head of Marketing | Communication
Mobile: +49 162 2359624 | Email: thomas.schulz(at)szm-gmbh.de