Solbiate Olona, Italy — Bees and honey, physical exercise, an escape room, and a “Trivia”-style quiz may not be the typical components of a corporate training session but for Bakelite, they formed the perfect formula for a memorable and meaningful Safety Day.
Held at Bakelite’s Solbiate Olona site, the annual event brought together associates for a full day of interactive, hands-on activities that showcased Bakelite’s core values: Create Value, Do the Right Thing, Safety First, and Build Trust. More than a tradition, Safety Day reflects how these values live in the daily behaviors of teams across Bakelite.
A Day Designed to Strengthen a Shared Safety Mindset
This year’s Safety Day combined education, teamwork, and fun, transforming traditional training into an experiential journey. Organized in collaboration with local Civil Protection groups, activities included physical fitness sessions, emergency response demonstrations, a safety themed escape room, and a Trivia style quiz focused on Management of Change.
The goal: to reinforce the belief that safety is a shared responsibility, and that meaningful learning happens through engagement, collaboration, and being present in the field.
“Safety represents a core value in the way Bakelite operates. Safety Day is a key moment to strengthen our safety mindset and to reinforce a culture in which everyone plays an active role. Being present in the field, observing, engaging, and contributing firsthand are at the heart of our approach.”
Site Leader Felice De Angelis
Europe EHS Leader Monica Garcia emphasized the global perspective, highlighting the importance of following procedures, stopping work when conditions are unsafe, reporting observations and concerns, and taking care of colleagues. She connected these everyday practices to Bakelite’s broader commitment to responsible chemistry, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
Bees, Biodiversity, and Doing the Right Thing
A standout moment of the day was the exploration of the site’s urban beekeeping project, developed in partnership with Apicoltura Urbana. Associates discovered how honeybees support fragile ecosystems and biodiversity—an eye opening reminder that “doing the right thing” extends far beyond the workplace and into environmental stewardship.
To close the day, each participant received honey from the site’s beehives along with fairtrade chocolate supporting the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti. These gifts symbolized both the themes of the day and Bakelite’s longstanding community engagement, including participation since 2013 in the Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) program promoted by Confindustria Varese with ATS Insubria and local trade unions.
Turning Values Into Actions—Year After Year
Bakelite Solbiate’s Safety Day continues to serve as a powerful catalyst for cultural growth, reminding teams that safety, sustainability, and care for others are not just priorities—they are daily actions.
Join us in celebrating the incredible teams who brought this year’s Safety Day to life, and a special thank you to our Bakelite associates for their enthusiasm, leadership, and passion for safety.
