L.L. Bean Brunswick Factory Earns “Star Level” for Safety, Health Achievements The Brunswick, Maine facility has been a shining example of safety since 2007.
Now, I’m sure you’ve heard of L.L. Bean, and you might even own a pair of their famous boots. They’ve got a manufacturing facility in Brunswick, Maine, where around 200 hardworking folks produce boots, dog beds, and custom embroidery.
Here’s the kicker: since 2007, this place has been recognized as a “Star” site by OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs. That’s the highest level of recognition you can get, and they’ve earned it time and time again – most recently in August 2022 after a thorough evaluation by OSHA safety and health experts.
These voluntary programs are all about promoting top-notch safety and health management systems at worksites, and L.L. Bean’s Brunswick facility has been knocking it out of the park. OSHA Regional Administrator Galen Blanton in Boston said it best, “The site has maintained a consistent focus on employee involvement, work practice improvements and engineering controls to reduce or eliminate musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses, even during challenges imposed by the coronavirus.”
Background: OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs recognize and promote effective worksite-based safety and health management systems.
Here’s a little backstory on the company that’s been keeping folks warm and dry for over a century…
A Closer Look at L.L. Bean: The American Classic Born in Maine From humble beginnings to a retail giant, L.L. Bean’s journey is one for the books
L.L. Bean is an American gem, folks. Founded back in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean in Freeport, Maine, this privately-held retail company has been outfitting people with top-notch clothing and outdoor gear for over a century.
Now, Leon wasn’t just a businessman; he was a hunter and fisherman who knew a thing or two about the great outdoors. Starting as a one-room operation, he came up with the Maine Hunting Shoe, which you probably know as the famous Bean Boot. This waterproof, lightweight wonder was a game-changer for hunters, and Leon’s mail-order business took off like a rocket.
Despite some hiccups in the early days (90% of the first production run was returned due to defects), Leon kept his word with his money-back guarantee, fixed the issues, and well, the rest is history.
From a modest $1 million in gross sales in 1946 to a whopping $237.4 million in 1984, L.L. Bean has come a long way. Their flagship store in Freeport is a sight to behold, open 24/7 and covering 220,000 sq ft.
Leon passed away in 1967, but his legacy lived on as the company stayed in the family. In 2013, Shawn Gorman, Leon’s great-grandson, was elected as L.L. Bean’s chairman. And in a historic move in 2015, Stephen Smith became the first CEO hired from outside the company.
So there you have it, folks. L.L. Bean – a true American success story, and a company that knows the importance of keeping their employees safe and sound.
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