At Almaco, safety didn’t start as a compliance initiative — it started as a decision.

On a recent episode of the Made in Iowa Podcast, I sat down with Almaco leaders Ellen Hines, director of workplace experience, and Justin Woods, chief manufacturing officer, for a candid look into the company’s evolving safety journey. They discussed how variability in manufacturing demands a proactive mindset, the importance of creating an environment where every employee feels responsible, and safe, to speak up and how prioritizing safety is a crucial driver of long-term success.

Here are five key takeaways from the conversation.

“Safety is everyone’s accountability … it’s never been one person in charge — it’s all of us.” — Ellen Hines

That shift — from ownership by a department to ownership by every individual — became the foundation. And they don’t leave it to chance.

“There’s a lot of places that say safety is important. Here, we actually mean it.” — Justin Woods

That’s not just talk. It shows up in behavior, especially in the moments that matter most — when no one’s watching.

“The first thing you do is fix it … then you go back and say thank you.” — Justin Woods

That one line explains everything about Almaco’s culture. Accountability isn’t punishment. It’s respect. It’s looking out for each other.

And that only works if people feel safe speaking up.

“It’s not tattling. It’s ‘I care about you enough to help you do your job safely.’” — Justin Woods

That reframing is what most companies miss. They try to enforce safety instead of humanizing it.

But at Almaco, the real breakthrough is internal.

“The mentality is, ‘I’m not safe enough … so I need to slow down and think.’” — Ellen Hines

That’s the difference. Not policies. Not posters.

Watch the episode

Made in Iowa Podcast is presented by Wellmark