I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all about the Return to Work Program at the Dannon plant in Fort Worth, TX. We've taken volunteerism to a higher level by making it a component of our Return to Work Program. Let me explain how it works.

Background

Preventing injuries is our first priority. But when employees do get hurt, we try to get them back on the job as soon as possible. If employees can't return to their full duty position, we have two programs to accommodate them during their rehabilitation:

• Employees subject to "minimum" restrictions are placed in a Modified Duty position within Dannon.
• Employees with "major" restrictions are placed in a Transitional Duty Program with the Volunteer Center of North Texas.

The Transitional Duty Program

The Volunteer Center of North Texas works with more than 1,700 non-profit agencies in Dallas, and the Tarrant and Collin County areas. The employee is placed in a temporary job that meets prescribed restrictions as a paid volunteer of the Dannon Company. The Volunteer Center functions as an employer by tracking the employee's time, attendance and job performance and sends us weekly time sheets and updates.

The Volunteer Center assigns duties to the employee. There's no shortage of available tasks, as volunteers are needed at all hours of the day or night.

The Payoff - The Business Side

The arrangement is a win-win. In return for making employees available to the Volunteer Center, Dannon has accrued valuable business benefits including:

Reduction in Lost Work Days. Since implementing the program, we've experienced a significant reduction in OSHA recordable lost work days, resulting in lower severity rates. These are things carefully tracked not just by the regulators and the insurance companies, but by our investors (The Dannon Company, Inc. is owned by Groupe Danone).

Shorter Recovery Times. Recovery periods have dropped significantly. Dannon has given the insurance claims adjusters and nurse case managers a comprehensive program to obtain earlier work releases from the treating doctors. It's also provided a placement process to accommodate return to work.

Lower Workers' Comp Costs. Fewer lost work days and lower severity rates drive down Workers' Compensation premiums since there are fewer claims being filed. Shorter recovery times also translate into shorter durations of open claims.

The Payoff - The Intangibles

Dannon has also reaped some important intangible benefits:

Therapeutic Effects. Participating in the program has been good therapy for injured employees. It promotes healing during rehabilitation and the transition back to work. And it's not just a physical thing. Injured workers feel that they're doing something for themselves and the community. Psychologically, this is much more positive than remaining idle during rehab.

Community Involvement and Public Relations. Belief in the importance of giving back to the community is an important part of Dannon's business mission and corporate culture. It's the Dannon Way. Working with the Volunteer Center is evidence of the seriousness of the company's commitment to the community and volunteerism. It's also a great source of positive publicity.

Making a Difference

Joe Baldwin, Workplace Safety Manager for The Dannon Company's Ft. Worth, TX, plant and Ms. Traci Day, former Manager of Volunteer Services for John Peter Smith Hospital Network.

One of the main benefactors of Dannon's Return to Work volunteerism has been John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth's County Hospital. JPS recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Volunteer Administration. This award is given to organizations that demonstrate innovative and creative ideas to promote volunteerism. Past recipients include Habitat of Humanity and the American Red Cross.

John Peter Smith Hospital is the first health care center to receive this internationally recognized award. Dannon was named as a community partner and was recognized during JPS's September 11, 2003 Board of Directors Meeting. Other benefactors of the Dannon Return to Work volunteers include: Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tarrant County, Harris Methodist Hospital and the American Red Cross.

Conclusion

Other companies across the country are following the Dannon Company's lead and starting to incorporate volunteerism as part of their own return to work programs. For example, Haggar Cloth Manufacturing of Fort Worth is designing and implementing a program based on the Dannon model. And Coca-Cola of North America has recently asked us for information about our program so it can develop a similar program. Seeing our approach catch on with other major corporations is a great source of pride and satisfaction for everybody at Dannon.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SAFETY SUCCESSES

We want to hear from safety directors and companies that do safety the right way. Sharing your safety successes will be a big help to your SafetyXChange colleagues; and it won't do your company's image any harm, either. If you've got a success story you want to share, send it to: Glenn Demby, glennd@bongarde.com, or Catherine Jones, catherinej@bongarde.com.

STRANGE BUT TRUE SAFETY FACTS

Catch an episode of Gilligan's Island or half of American Idol. Shave, shower and dress. Save up to 15 percent on your car insurance - twice.

There's not much you can do in 30 minutes. But half an hour is plenty of time for carnage on America's roads and highways. Consider these sobering facts:

Killing and maiming every half hour.

Every 13 Seconds: A disabling injury caused by a motor vehicle crash occurs

Every 2 Minutes: A non-fatal accident-related traffic injury occurs

Every 12 Minutes: A death caused by a motor vehicle crash occurs

Every 30 Minutes: An alcohol-related traffic death occurs

Source: National Safety Council, Report on Injuries in America, 2003

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