Jay Small
Nominated for: 30 Over 30 Award
Title: Vice President Global Environmental, Health & Safety
Company: JELD-WEN, Inc.
Years in Profession:
Nominator: Christian Missonak, Benchmark Gensuite, customer of Jay.
Tell us why this person deserves recognition for making a difference in the practice of EHS & Sustainability management. (500 words max.)*
During Jay’s tenure at JELD-WEN, he has worked tirelessly to transform the EHS&S function and how the organization interacts with and thinks about environmental, health & safety, and sustainability at all levels. Over the past 4 years, he has championed Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) prevention and Life Critical Safety Rules (high-risk tasks that are precursors to SIFs), introduced HOP principles and leadership training, and has ensured that we are both collecting accurate data for our ESG reporting and are actively working toward our company goals with the support of our Senior Leadership Team, Operations teams, and the EH&S and Sustainability teams through the Global EH&S Leadership Council. His consistent narrative and vision for an effective EH&S Management System have ensured that we have accomplished what we have set out to achieve.
Describe a situation or initiative where the nominee was directly responsible for a significant achievement and/or advancement in the practice of EHS & Sustainability management. Include metrics and KPIs if available. (500 words max.)*
Jay has introduced systems thinking and better root cause analysis related to incident investigations through an industry-recognized root cause analysis tool, which has led to improved investigations and corrective actions. Each of these incidents has also resulted in lessons learned that sites have been able to use to improve their systems and help foster a culture of a learning organization. As a result of these efforts, JELD-WEN has experienced 13% YOY TRIR reductions and a 33% reduction in SIF frequency between 2021 and 2022, and continued reduction for 2023. In addition, our LTIR rate has been reduced by 14% YOY and we’re currently on track for another 15% reduction for 2023.
On the leading indicator side, Jay led the implementation of EH&S management software through a partnership with Benchmark. This has allowed the organization to better track metrics, which has led to improved business decisions related to investments in technology and upgrades to people, equipment, materials, and processes. One of those initiatives has included hazard recognition training and the use of the “Share It!” module, which allows all employees to submit potential hazards for elimination, repair, or improvement. In our first six months of introducing this module, we had 17,555 items shared and a 94% closure rate. The number of submissions has increased YOY with 41,014 shared in 2022, and our closure rate has remained a consistent 94% through 2022 and into 2023.
In your opinion, what are the predominant skills and attributes that directly contribute to the nominee’s effectiveness and success? (500 words max.)*
Jay is a passionate and charismatic leader that wholeheartedly believes in the vision he has set for world-class EHS&S performance. It is his ability to adapt, persuade, and influence that has led to the success of the EH&S and ESG programs at JELD-WEN. His focus on ensuring the organization is implementing engineered solutions and technology, driving leading indicators versus lagging indicators, and challenging the organization to do safety differently has led to the overall success of the EH&S and ESG programs at JELD-WEN.
Share the ways this nominee has positively influenced you, both personally and professionally. You may also include reflections and quotes from others including executives, direct reports, colleagues, suppliers, and clients. (500 words max.)*
“Jay’s commitment to personal development has been demonstrated many times over. I have been enabled to get my TapRooT trainer certification, Certified Machinery Safety Expert (CMSE) certification, MoveSmart trainer, and have been given an opportunity to expand my international experience by being part of JELD-WEN’s internal EH&S audit team. Jay does this for others, as well, and ensures we have the time and resources to meet our personal and professional goals.” – Crystal Pollin, EH&S Manager – Global Programs & Audits at JELD-WEN, Inc.
Jay has obtained organizational support to greatly expand the capabilities of the EH&S function in JELD-WEN by hiring EH&S staff at each of our sites, creating an internal EH&S audit program which has opened development opportunities for multiple employees within the organization, and introduced projects, programs, and initiatives that have allowed many in the EH&S function to expand their professional development.
Jay has created a real team ethic in the EHS function and brought the organization together as One Global Team which epitomizes our organizational values.
“On a personal level, I joined the business as the European EHS Director, and through his support and investment he gave me further exposure to the global organization working on key projects to drive our strategy. This allowed me to further develop my career and was promoted to Global EHS Director of programs and audits and more recently Senior Global EHS Director working directly for Jay in his organization. Although we are a US company, and I am based in the UK, he saw this not as a potential barrier but a real opportunity to develop as a global EHS organization. He truly sees his team as partners together on a journey of improvement. He values opinions and empowers autonomy in the group to challenge the status quo and bring new initiatives to help grow and improve.
Under Jay’s leadership, I was able to form the great team I have today the ‘Global EHS programs and audits team’, which continues to be a great success in helping us to develop a clear roadmap for improvement at every global facility, developing others with their involvement and creating the ability to share best practices across the organization”- Simon Greenfield - Senior Global EHS Director
Provide one or more examples of nominee’s commitment to environmental stewardship within their organization and/or the community. (500 words max.)*
Jay championed ESG reporting for JELD-WEN and introduced the Sustainability module in the Benchmark software to the organization to ensure accurate and timely data is compiled for our annual report. As outlined in our 2022 ESG report, JELD-WEN has made an overall commitment to achieving zero net waste and 100% renewable energy usage in our operations by 2050, as well as an aim to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion pounds annually through installing our products in 60 million homes worldwide. Through our partnership with Benchmark, our Board or Directors, our Senior Leadership Team, and our operations, we wholeheartedly believe we will achieve those goals and our upcoming 2023 ESG report will reflect those efforts.
Copies of JELD-WEN’s ESG reports can be obtained here: https://www.jeld-wen.com/en-us/esg/2021/overview