In recent decades, risk management in factories has undergone significant evolution. This time, we focus on the timber industry. The transformation of Risk Management in the wood sector has enabled the integration of risk perspectives across all areas of management, both technical and legal, through the development of contingency plans and the involvement of specialized external consulting firms.
To explore the details of this transformation, MAPFRE Global Risks has reached out to an industry expert with whom we will delve into all aspects of Risk Management: “In addition to having become a function with its own entity, with specialized personnel in this field, the main evolution has been to consolidate the integration of the risk management perspective across all areas of factory management, both technical and legal“.
Another key element has been the creation of contingency plans. These plans are drawn up when a potential event or claim is identified that could jeopardize the safety of people and the continuity of operations. The expert explained that contingency plans include technical, human, and organizational measures to address these events. Additionally, multidisciplinary teams from various areas of company management participate in their creation, such as management, production, maintenance, occupational risk prevention, industrial safety, technical office, legal counsel, environmental, administration and finance, and human resources departments. “It is also especially important the participation and advice provided by technical personnel from external consultants specializing in managing and controlling the risks we aim to avoid”. A professional and specialized perspective on prevention is crucial for addressing complex and industry-specific risks.
Sustainability is another crucial aspect in the timber industry, as it is a renewable, recyclable, and sustainable material. “Working with wood has always allowed this industry to work with a sustainable approach in the development of its activities—from product design and the production process to recycling the material”. Our expert emphasizes that, in addition to continuous improvement and R&D in processes and products, it is important to focus on training personnel, digitalizing processes, managing water usage, improving energy efficiency, and minimizing waste. Continuous staff training is vital, as it ensures they are up to date with the best practices and technologies available.
Regarding the future of wood, the expert states that many wood processing plants already use recycled wood to a large extent. “Recycling wood is both possible and necessary, as it allows the replacement of wood with waste from wood products generated at the end of their useful life, thus extending the life cycle of this material”. This approach, in addition to reducing the demand for new wood, also decreases the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient cycle for products in this sector.
The journey through Risk Management at the timber factory, alongside this expert, shows how the industry has made significant progress in terms of risk prevention and sustainability. In this regard, he mentioned the importance of collaborating with external experts and using specialized services such as those of MAPFRE Global Risks, for the proper protection of the activity and the people involved: “MAPFRE Global Risks, in addition to its specialization and technical knowledge derived from extensive experience across various sectors, offers a comprehensive view of risk, which is essential for identifying needs and proposing solutions, especially those that require standardization processes”.
In conclusion, recycling wood to manufacture new products presents a significant opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of the industry and promote a more efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.
