Ajinomoto makes food. You’ve seen their name at Costco, in grocery aisles, maybe behind the counter at a stadium. What they don’t make? Excuses when it comes to worker safety. Steadfastly responding to issues within the critical hour is why they won Axiom Medical’s Rapid Response Award. But this isn’t a story about awards. It’s about the work behind them.
How a People-First Safety Culture Took Root
Every year, each employee writes down why they work safely. The reasons vary — health, team, their family — but the message stays the same: I want to get home whole.
It’s part of a continued evolution led by Nick Pullin, Ajinomoto’s Safety Director, Environmental, Health & Safety. He and his team introduced a visionary five-year safety plan — a living document, reviewed regularly, discussed openly, and shared with leadership. Each site tracks progress, sets annual goals, and brings real updates to the table. It shapes how they meet, how they plan, and how they follow through.
Where Speaking Up is the Standard
Most companies want “Goal Zero.” No injuries, no incidents. The problem? That goal can breed silence. Workers hide injuries to avoid blame and backlash.
Ajinomoto took a different path. Every incident gets reported. No fear, no shame. That includes contractors and staffing agencies. If you’re hurt on-site and you were correctly following safety protocols, you won’t get in trouble. Period. Just make sure you follow the injury reporting process.
And it’s working. In one recent quarter, only 13 cases escalated to a clinic — out of just over 200. That’s not luck. That’s Ajinomoto’s safety system firing on all cylinders.
Meetings Where Every Idea Sticks
Ajinomoto’s safety team meets with purpose. Each site reports openly — what went wrong, what improved, what’s next. Leaders don’t lecture; they listen, ask thoughtful questions, and dig into real-world challenges. It’s not about calling anyone out — it’s about making the work safer, as a team.
One small but effective practice: the sticky note board. During meetings, if a side topic comes up, it gets written down and added to the board. At the end, the team reviews the notes, clusters related ideas, and identifies top priorities as a team and next steps.
It’s a simple way to make sure nothing gets forgotten — and everyone’s input has a place. “Everyone has ownership in their safety team, which sets them above the rest,” noted Lhoren Morris, Ajinomoto’s account manager here at Axiom.
The Stats Tell the Story
Ajinomoto’s safety stats are strong — and consistently reliable:
- 95% first aid rate
- Clinic escalations remain consistently low, averaging under 10% of total cases
- Strong reporting culture: High volume of reported cases with minimal fallout
- Critical hour reporting consistently in the 60th percentile range
These aren’t surface-level wins. They reflect a team that reports early, acts quickly, and follows through at every level.
What’s Behind Ajinomoto’s Momentum?
Ajinomoto’s safety success comes down to a few key principles: they trust employees to care — and give them the tools to act. They don’t punish honesty. They make safety emotional, not just operational. They invite feedback, and they act on it. And they keep building, with no finish line in sight.
They didn’t get here with glossy posters or a top-down mandate. They built it from the ground up — with clear protocols, consistent leadership, and real conversations. If you’re ready to build something similar, Axiom can help.