Cultural Transformation in Safety

pladis places its employees at the forefront of all the practices it develops and attaches great importance to both white-collar and blue-collar training in its factories. In addition to legally required training in all factories at specific intervals, we also offer orientation, technical, product, and competency training to improve employees' skills.

Approximately 2.5 million people are exposed to work-related accidents or occupational diseases each year, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Turkey ranks 9th globally in terms of fatal occupational accidents per 100,000 employees, and national studies show that about 2.3% of workers are affected by workplace accidents annually, with a fatality rate nearly five times higher than the EU average. As a major food manufacturer, Ülker (part of pladis Türkiye) operates large-scale factories and warehouses, engaging thousands of employees and contractors. In 2014, Ülker reported a Lost Time Accident Rate (LTAR) of 4.38, underscoring the need for not only stronger safety controls but also a deeper cultural shift. Internal assessments revealed that while legal compliance was being met, long-term improvement required employee ownership, behavioral change, and unified safety practices. In response, pladis Türkiye launched the Cultural Transformation in Safety initiative to embed safety into organizational culture and drive sustainable change. By 2023, the company set a new safety vision of "Zero Accident," emphasizing that a true transformation required shifting from a reactive mindset to a proactive, prevention-first approach. The Cultural Transformation in Safety initiative accelerated under three strategic pillars.

Behavior-Based Safety Culture involved focus group studies with psychologists and sociologists to assess perceptions. Peer feedback tools (I.G.E. cards), monthly contests, recognition programs, experiential learning, VR tools, and interactive safety training cultivated ownership. Risk Management and Preventive Systems institutionalized proactive risk assessments, ergonomic evaluations, machine inspections, and lockout-tagout protocols. The "Area Responsibility" model empowered employees to audit and act on field risks. Emergency preparedness plans were updated with global standards like NFPA and site-specific earthquake protocols. Digital Safety Platforms such as SafeUP and VisitPro enabled real-time safety governance, supporting document management, contractor onboarding, training compliance, and access control. The program stands out through its depth, continuity, and integration. Rather than addressing safety as isolated interventions, pladis Türkiye united cultural, operational, and technological dimensions into a single transformation journey. At the heart of this approach is human-centered organizational development. Working with psychologists, sociologists, and technical experts, the company explored employee perceptions, built feedback mechanisms, and fostered internal motivation.

Platforms like SafeUP and VisitPro consolidated all safety data and processes into a transparent, real-time management system ensuring agility and alignment across functions and facilities. The impact of this cultural and organizational transformation is reflected in long-term performance. Since 2014, total work hours grew by over 16%, yet both accident frequency and severity dropped dramatically. The LTAR fell from 4.38 in 2014 to 0.59 in 2024 and to 0.52 in 2025 year-to-date, an 88% improvement. Total accidents decreased by 74% and lost-time incidents by 83%. The Accident Severity Rate was cut by more than half, while average lost time per accident dropped from 21.9 hours to 3.1 hours. This progress demonstrates that safety became a defining element of organizational identity and a model of sustainable transformation.