City of Industry, CA – Approved Freight Forwarders, a California-based freight forwarder that has been serving the Pacific since 1991, recently celebrated five years without a lost-time accident or injury. The milestone is significant considering the transportation and warehousing industry reported more than four workplace injuries per 100 workers occurred in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“Every day we strive to be a world-class organization, and for us it starts with safety,” said CEO Eric Zybura. “To reach a milestone of this magnitude doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one day, one hour, one minute at a time by each and every person in the company. I’m so proud of everyone and the care they put into their work and their dedication to our customers.”
For nearly 30 years, Approved has been providing ocean freight consolidations, air freight and over-the-road transport of goods and commodities, primarily serving Hawaii and Guam. As a Top 100 3PL Provider, Approved handles commodities of all types and sizes for businesses around the world.
“There is a constant flow of activity on our dock, so this milestone is a testament to our employees, who put tremendous care in our customers’ freight,” said Troy Plotkin, vice president of operations. “And that protection yields better efficiency, which equates to saved time and money for the people and companies we serve.”
The Avent Group, a staffing agency that specializes in placing warehouse, distribution and logistics personnel, works regularly with Approved and has been impressed with the company’s track record of safety.
“I have never been a part of something like this,” said Gilbert Matias, Avent Group’s director of safety and owner of Live Workers Comp. “There are 5.5 million workplace injuries in California every year. For Approved to go more than five years without an accident or injury is simply unheard of, especially in this industry.”
Approved’s Safety Committee has played an integral role in preserving the company’s flawless safety record over the past five years. The six-person team, drawn from every facet of the organization, leads the way in educating new employees on the importance of a safe workplace and constantly keeping it top of mind for the entire organization with regular meetings.
“Having a company that is safety-minded first ultimately creates a company culture that has no limits,” Matias said. “This is something that Approved should be very proud of and cherished as much as possible.”
