Environmental, occupational health, and safety are important values for Dynaset, and this is now reflected in the company’s achieved certifications.

In early 2024, Dynaset announced the attainment of two prestigious certifications: ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018, complementing the existing ISO 9001:2015 quality certification. This demonstrates significant progress in the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and occupational health and safety. We sat down with Dynaset’s Production Manager Tero Ylä-Soininmäki and Quality Engineer Ville Keränen, who shared their experiences of managing the project.

Project Initiation and Progress

Dynaset’s inner motivations and strong leadership steer its development work, resulting in top-notch operations. The project kicked off with firm commitment from the executive teams and widespread implementation of measures throughout the company. Getting to this achievement wasn’t easy, as it required careful understanding of the standards and their requirements. With significant investments and key personnel, the certifications were achieved on the first attempt.

Production Manager Tero Ylä-Soininmäki reflects on the project’s early stages:

— I have served as executive team’s representative in the project. Commitment from the managerial level has been crucial in initiating these measures. The project required planning, implementation of measures, and their monitoring, which required extensive staff participation.

— The project started by outlining what needed to be done and assigning tasks to different people. An external party conducted audits, and after minor adjustments, we obtained the certifications on the first attempt, recalls Quality Engineer Ville Keränen.

Environmental Certificate

ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally recognized environmental management system standard. It provides organizations with a framework to identify and manage their environmental impacts, improve their performance, and reduce resource consumption.

— We gathered environmental perspectives from different departments and organized a brainstorming session, from which we selected significant environmental aspects. Based on these, we planned measures to improve them, says Keränen.

Measuring environmental load has been a key measure in the development of the environmental agenda. Energy and water consumption and heating costs are measured and monitored closely in relation to the operations and size of the company. Additionally, improving recycling and reducing waste have been important goals for the company. Clear labelling and colour-coding of waste bins have clarified the recycling system. Training has also been increased throughout the organisation. The development of environmental policy has been an essential part of the process. In addition, all relevant laws and regulations have been reviewed, with a more in-depth look at the legal requirements, such as the responsibilities for reporting substance concentrations in different situations.

Raising awareness of the environmental issues was significant in itself.

Production Manager, Tero Ylä-Soininmäki

In procurement, inspections regarding supplier interfaces, such as supplier chains and packaging materials, have been conducted. The environmental perspective has also been taken into account in defining and developing product life cycles. The goal is to develop product innovations considering environmental impact and strive for even more sustainable solutions.

Occupational Health and Safety Certificate

In addition, Dynaset has achieved the ISO 45001:2018 standard, which addresses occupational health and safety management systems, helping to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of employees and stakeholders by establishing procedures to prevent work-related accidents and illnesses. On the occupational health and safety side, employee involvement has been further increased. Events have been added to Dynaset’s annual events calendar, involving all employees in the planning and promotion of activities with the common goal of creating a safer workplace.

— In safety matters, we have always been at the forefront. For years we have had well-established practices, such as regular safety meetings, which are now held on a monthly basis. We have also clarified the reporting processes for accident reports and “close calls” by setting targets for processing and follow-up measures, says Ylä-Soininmäki.

The efficiency of documentation and the processing speed with which incidents are handled are key areas for improvement. They are monitored through metrics. Environmental, occupational health, and safety policies have been integrated into the company’s quality handbook. Furthermore, a significant measure has been comprehensive risk assessment that is conducted thoroughly at all workstations. Compliance with laws and obligations has been enhanced to meet changing requirements. Moreover, a comprehensive occupational health and safety policy has been introduced, and the system for risk assessments and incident reporting has been clarified. Safety training has also been increased for employees.

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Achieving certifications is a testament to Dynaset’s strong commitment to responsibility. The certifications obtained by the company are not just paper on the wall; they tell a story of ongoing efforts for a better tomorrow. Ylä-Soininmäki explains that obtaining ISO certifications was a collective effort of the entire organization. Dynaset understood that responsibility is not just a matter of management but requires the contribution and participation of from the entire organization.

The importance of sustainability is constantly growing, and nowadays it can even be a minimum requirement for a workplace. Few want to work for a company whose values do not align with their own. Customers expect to receive modern services and products that are environmentally friendly and reflect their values. Additionally, requirements are tightening towards suppliers, expanding responsibility throughout the entire supply chain.

Quality Engineer, Ville Keränen

— We want to share our achievements with the world and encourage other companies to act responsibly for the environment. Hopefully, every employee takes pride in working for a company that prioritizes these values and enables participation in the development process, adds Ylä-Soininmäki at the end of the interview.