It’s Not the 90s Anymore: Modernize or Miss Out – Engagement in Food & Beverage
Back in the 90s, “engagement” at work was a very different story. You might remember:
- Signing your name on a clipboard safety checklist (next to the “be kind, rewind” reminder from last night’s VHS rental).
- A faded safety poster hanging in the breakroom next to the Surge vending machine.
- Training sessions that resembled a blocky PowerPoint presentation on Windows 95 more than anything practical.
- Or, if you were fortunate, a pager buzz when something went wrong.
It was low-tech, one-way communication, workers were told to “be careful” around chemicals like peracetic acid (PAA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), but real engagement? That wasn’t happening.
Fast forward to today, and those methods feel about as outdated as a dial-up modem. Engagement isn’t about checking boxes anymore; it’s about real-time awareness, two-way communication, and empowering workers to act on safety information the moment it matters.
Engagement: Then vs. Now
90s Engagement:
- Clipboards for exposure logs (that nobody reads until the end of the month)
- “Caution” tape as the main line of defense
- Workers told to “walk it off” after symptoms of chemical exposure
- One-way communication from management
Modern Engagement:
- Real-time PAA & H₂O₂ monitoring systems that keep workers in the loop, instantly
- Dashboards and alarms instead of dusty posters
- Data-backed transparency that builds trust between management and employees
- Two-way communication where workers play an active role in safety
Why Engagement Matters with PAA & H₂O₂
Unlike spilled Surge or Crystal Pepsi, exposure to PAA and H₂O₂ isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can mean eye irritation, breathing difficulties, and real health risks.
Engagement ensures:
- Workers see live monitoring data, not guesses.
- Real-time alarms enable employees to take action quickly.
- Facilities stay ahead of regulatory limits instead of reacting too late.
Modernize or Miss Out
If you’re still relying on clipboards and “be careful” reminders, you’re basically trying to run your facility with a pager in the age of smartphones.
Modern engagement means:
- Monitoring systems that show real-time PAA & H₂O₂ data
- Alerts that are impossible to ignore (like your 90s Tamagotchi beeping at 2 a.m., but with higher stakes)
- Consistent communication loops that keep both workers and management aligned
It’s not the 90s anymore; engagement is the frontline defense in protecting workers and keeping facilities safe. If your strategy is still stuck in the age of floppy disks and fax machines, you’re not just behind, you’re missing out.
To learn more about chemical monitoring in the workplace, tune in September 24th at 11:00 a.m. for “Enhancing Safety: Chemical Monitoring in the Food & Beverage Industry” with ChemDAQ and Levitt Safety for this informative webinar. Click here to register.