Cora Stewart
Cora Stewart
Senior Safety Manager
L’Oréal, North Little Rock
Kay Mueller
Kay Mueller
Senior Manager, Safety
L’Oréal, North Little Rock
Rachel Furman
Rachel Furman
Senior Environmental Manager
L’Oréal, North Little Rock
Empowering Employees: Building a Safety Culture Together
This presentation explores the transformative eight-year journey of L’Oréal’s North Little Rock manufacturing site as it strives for an interdependent safety culture. Grounded in the “hummingbird principle,” the site embraces the philosophy that small, individual actions, when combined, create a significant positive impact. This principle is woven into the fabric of the site’s safety approach, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and collective ownership.
The journey highlights the crucial role of visible safety leadership at all levels, emphasizing employee participation and an “each other’s keeper” mentality. Attendees will gain insights into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs experienced along the way, demonstrating how a commitment to continuous improvement and individual empowerment can lead to a truly transformative safety culture.
Cora Stewart
Cora Stewart is a Senior Safety Manager at L’Oréal’s cosmetics manufacturing plant in North Little Rock, AR. She has been on the Environment, Health and Safety team at the site for 7 years, working collaboratively to build and maintain a robust safety culture at the site. She has supported several health and safety initiatives such as ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and forklift safety. She strives to create a safe and healthy work environment and positive culture at the site.
She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Public Health degree with an emphasis on environmental and occupational health and epidemiology. She is a Certified Safety Professional, an Emergency Medical Technician, and a Special Government Employee.
Kay Mueller
Kay Mueller is the Senior Safety Manager at L’Oréal’s North Little Rock, Arkansas plant, also known as the Color Cosmetics Center of Excellence. With over 23 years of experience at L’Oréal, Kay has a diverse background spanning manufacturing production, environmental health and safety (EH&S), and quality. For the last 8 years, she has focused her expertise on building a robust health and safety culture. Kay leads the site’s Safety Management System (ISO 45001) and OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program, driving a cultural shift towards interdependence and a proactive approach to eliminating LIFE risks.
She fosters a work environment where every employee feels empowered to actively participate in safety initiatives and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement. This commitment to shared responsibility and proactive risk mitigation is at the heart of Kay’s safety philosophy. Her team’s outstanding achievements in cultivating this safety culture have been recognized with numerous RoSPA awards, culminating in the prestigious Sir George Earle Trophy in 2023. Kay holds certifications as a Professional Engineer, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Safety Professional, and Special Government Employee.
Rachel Furman
Rachel Furman is the Senior Environmental Manager at L’Oréal’s largest cosmetics manufacturing plant in the world, located in North Little Rock, AR. She is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bradley University (2005) and a Master of Science in Sustainable Management from the University of Wisconsin (2024). She has been working in environmental, health and safety compliance and sustainability roles at manufacturing and distribution sites for 18 years, with experience in engine manufacturing and assembly, iron casting, logistics, and third-party warehousing and distribution.
She has been with L’Oreal for 11 years and coordinates implementation of L’Oréal’s sustainability program “L’Oreal For The Future,” is a lead auditor for ISO 14001, 45001 and 50001, is a First Responder, and coordinates hazardous materials programs such as HazCom, DOT HazMat shipping, and HazWoper spill response. She is passionate about the environment and employee health and safety through the interconnection between humans and the natural environment.