Environment, health, and safety – at first glance, this sounds dry, involving lots of rules and processes. But that's not the case, as Stefan Neiske, Global EHS Manager, explains. We talk to him about sources of danger, laws, and whether safety experts are more anxious parents.

^{Tuesday 2025-10-28}

Safety in the workplace concerns everyone – and there is often more to it than you might think. Stefan Neiske, Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Manager at FORVIA HELLA, provides insights into the work of his team.

Stefan, let's be honest: occupational safety, health protection – do we really need that? After all, we don't produce explosives.

(laughs) That's actually still the way some people think! But risks lurk in every manufacturing company – risks to the health of employees and to the environment. Even without explosives. A pedestrian that is overlooked by a forklift truck, a running machine, handling a hazardous substance can be just as dangerous. Our primary goal is simple: all employees should go home safe and sound and unharmed after work every day. That sounds obvious, but it's not. That's why we're here.

Can you really assess the dangers lurking in the plant in Mexico, for example, from your desk in Lippstadt?

Absolutely not. That's why I don't do it alone. We are a team of around 80 people around the globe. Here in Lippstadt, we pull the strings and develop company-wide programs. But the real work happens on site: our regional and local EHS managers know the specific challenges in their plants, they are the point of contact for colleagues on site and they support the implementation of our initiatives. They do a very important and great job! Personally, my own practical experience as a plant employee in other manufacturing companies helps me. That's why I know how things work in practice and what typical sources of danger there are.

Let's talk about these sources of danger. What are the classic ones?

Oh, there are quite a few! Here's a specific example: In our plants, special paths for pedestrians were not clearly separated and marked. This meant that there was a high risk of pedestrians colliding with one of the many logistics vehicles. That's why, as part of our company-wide "7 Mandatory Safety Rules" initiative, we developed a concept for optimizing the paths in all plants: with protected and clearly marked footpaths and protective measures such as stop signs at intersections. It sounds trivial, but it can save lives.

Many good-sounding safety programs can certainly be developed on the drawing board. But how do you ensure that they don't fizzle out, but are actually implemented at the operational level?

We focus on several things: First, we define targets and closely monitor whether they are being achieved, e.g., using the FORVIA Excellence System (FES). Second - and this is crucial - we have experienced a real cultural change in recent years. Environmental protection and occupational safety are now part of everyday business. Programs such as "Care Moments" also contribute to this (editor's note: a few examples can be found below in our picture gallery): Under this motto, EHS provides new safety and environmental protection topics for plant employees on a daily basis. The team leaders in production and logistics address these topics in their meetings before the start of each shift. A new topic every day – that's how we stay present. Then there's "Hazard Hunting": anyone who notices safety or environmental issues in their own work area can easily report them using the mLean tool. After all, everyone knows their own work area best and knows where problems can arise.

Can you also prove with hard figures that your programs are effective? Or is it just a "feeling of safety"?

Not at all. A look at the statistics shows that the accident rate – i.e., the number of accidents in relation to the number of hours worked – has halved at FORVIA HELLA over the past two years. That is an extremely successful development. A lot has also been achieved in terms of environmental protection: water consumption and waste volumes have fallen significantly. Thanks to a project by the global real estate management team, we were able to reduce global water consumption at our sites by around nine percent in one year. These are not soft factors, they are measurable successes.

You mentioned a cultural change. Does that mean that people weren't interested in safety before and now suddenly are?

I wouldn't see it in such black-and-white terms, but yes: we have seen a real change in recent years. On the one hand, this is due to increasing awareness through our programs. On the other hand, it is also due to increased pressure from all sides. In recent years, for example, legal sustainability and environmental protection standards have been significantly raised. But it's not just legislators who are exerting pressure – customers also expect high EHS standards from their suppliers. And we have focused more closely on the issue ourselves and set ourselves ambitious goals. As you can see, EHS is a complex issue that needs to be constantly re-examined. That's why we continuously monitor current developments, identify areas where action is needed, and launch appropriate initiatives. And the great thing is that we constantly receive good ideas from our employees on how we can improve.

We've talked a lot about production. Do you also take care of your colleagues in the offices?

Absolutely: EHS is not just for production and logistics. Office employees can also approach their local EHS colleagues if, for example, they need help with the ergonomic design of their workplace. The experts also conduct regular inspections of the work areas to eliminate potential sources of accidents. After all, even a cable that poses a tripping hazard or a poorly adjusted monitor can cause damage in the long run.

Finally, two personal questions: Why do you do what you do? What motivates you to work in hazard prevention?

Environmental protection and occupational safety have been close to my heart for a long time. Even when choosing my field of study - technical environmental protection - I was guided by my interest in the sustainable orientation of production processes. I have been sensitive to the issue of occupational safety since a formative experience during my carpentry training: at that time, I had an accident at work in which I injured my hand - fortunately without any lasting damage. But this experience left a lasting impression on me. In my current position, I can devote myself to both of these issues that are close to my heart.

Does your professional approach to safety actually affect your family life? Do you let your children play alone in the woods?

(laughs) I probably can't completely shake that mindset, but of course children need to take risks and have their own experiences in order to become independent. It's important for me to explain and agree with them beforehand what they need to be aware of. Otherwise, when it comes to the environment and health, I focus on the little things in my private life: reducing my own energy consumption and using electricity from renewable sources to protect the environment, and doing sports and regular exercise to stay healthy. As an individual, you can achieve a lot that way.

Thank you for talking to us, Stefan.