Grolsch partners with Pharius to foster a Risk-Conscious Workplace

24 October 2024

How do you ensure that your iconic green bottles are produced and distributed as safely as possible? According to Jeroen de Groot, Senior Safety and Environmental Specialist at Grolsch, the answer lies in engaging the entire organization. And with the help of the compliance tool Pharius, this goal is within reach.

While Grolsch’s recipe has remained unchanged for over 400 years, the regulations governing the company have not. Environmental rules are constantly evolving, production methods and ingredients are scrutinized, and occupational safety regulations are continuously tightened. It’s easy to lose track of everything, and that’s exactly what happened. “Various departments were working independently, with safety responsibilities entirely relegated to the HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) department,” says Jeroen de Groot. “This sometimes led to a reactive approach: if an incident occurred, we would take action. But when you have oversight and control, you can take proactive measures. It became my mission to make this a reality.”

Gaining Control Over Regulations

Jeroen used Pharius to document the legal requirements and internal standards for all departments. “This includes requirements related to behavior, technology, and organization. Consider process safety, chemical safety, machine safety in production, working at heights during contractor activities, or operating forklifts and reach trucks in the warehouse. Pharius organizes these requirements in a structured manner, categorized by risk level, down to the individual level within each department. And if there are any changes, you’ll receive automatic notifications. Departments are given access to Pharius and can use it to create action plans. This way, they know exactly what steps they need to take on their own.”

Delegating Responsibility to Managers

While Pharius provided clear and understandable administration, Jeroen focused on increasing organizational involvement. “We chose to train key stakeholders in each department on how to use Pharius and conduct progress meetings with the departments several times a year.

“Departments are now directly responsible for their own safety”
– Jeroen de Groot – Safety, Health & Environment (OP) Manager · Koninklijke Grolsch

Additionally, we’re reintroducing HSE compliance into the management review process for departmental managers next year. This means they will be held accountable for the health and safety of their departments. By doing so, we aim to strengthen the ownership of safe processes within the organization. The responsibility now lies with the people themselves.”

A Risk-Conscious Culture

After about a year at the beer giant, Jeroen is starting to see the culture gradually shift. “I’ve noticed that many actions are being resolved, and various departments have mastered the new way of working. It’s encouraging to see, as driving behavioral change takes time.” Slowly but surely, Grolsch is transforming into a risk-conscious organization where not just the HSE department, but every employee, takes responsibility.

Confidence in the Future

A crucial question remains: has this cultural shift already led to a reduction in the number of incidents? “It’s too early to say for certain, but I’m confident it will,” says Jeroen. “We’ve now established a strong foundation, with clear action plans for each department. We’re translating this into long-term plans, allowing us to act proactively and make well-informed decisions both in the short and long term. This is how we’re embedding HSE into the entire Grolsch organization.”

More info

Wondering what Pharius can do for your organization? Or would you like advice on structuring your (Q)HSE compliance? Then please contact us or schedule a online appointment with Jeroen or Patrick.

Schedule an appointment