October 27, 2025

The Recipe for Safety: Sean O’Connor’s 30-Year Mission

By: Saltchuk
in People of Saltchuk, Safety, Western US

The Jankovich Company’s Director of Operations earns a 2025 Saltchuk Honorable Mention for transformational safety leadership 

Sean O’Connor learned his first safety lesson while sweeping floors at a Vons grocery store. “I learned that the hourly floor sweep was more about safety than cleanliness,” he recalls. “I could observe everything happening in the store and report issues, or potential issues, to the floor manager.” 

Three decades later, that early understanding of safety as constant vigilance has shaped O’Connor into a transformational leader at The Jankovich Company, earning him a 2025 Saltchuk Safety Award Honorable Mention. 

Fun Facts

O’Connor grew up in Long Beach, attended St. John Bosco High School and Cal State Long Beach, and now works in nearby Paramount, California—all within a 20-mile radius of where he was raised. 

Following his father’s advice to “show up early, work hard, and ask if anything else needs to be done before leaving,” O’Connor has held nearly every role he now oversees at The Jankovich Company. 

Building Trust Through Action

O’Connor’s approach centers on two principles: personal agency and unwavering management support. “We encourage employees to voice concerns daily, in the moment, and we work to resolve issues immediately,” he explains. “If employees speak up and nothing is done, they may become reluctant to continue doing so.” 

This philosophy extends beyond formal channels. “I have an open-door policy; employees come to see me daily. I receive texts and phone calls throughout the day. When you address their concerns and resolve issues, it builds trust.” 

Fun Fact

O’Connor oversees The Jankovich Company’s Paramount facility, which boasts more than 900,000 gallons of bulk storage capacity and full railcar access. The facility handles fuel, lubricants, marine operations, and cardlock systems across over 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. 

Courageous Culture in Practice

Central to O’Connor’s impact is developing The Jankovich Company’s “Courageous Culture” initiative. “By exploring the four dimensions of culture—complacent, compliant, committed, and courageous—we’ve established an ongoing dialogue with our team,” he explains.

The program fosters a culture of psychological safety, enabling employees to collaborate on resolving issues through equipment improvements and new procedures. “While leadership plays a key role in promoting courage, we also strive for it to grow from the ground up.” 

The Turning Point

O’Connor identifies when safety transformed from compliance to a core value: showing employees the Remembering Charlie video, depicting how complacency led to serious workplace injuries. 

“As I looked around the room, I could see in people’s eyes that the message was sinking in. The mood was somber, and you could tell everyone was thinking about their own roles and their families. That video marked a turning point.” 

Fun Facts

O’Connor operates under The Jankovich Company Safety Credo that “accidents and injuries are preventable,” conducting root cause analyses because “every injury or accident I’ve seen over the years could have been prevented with a different decision.”

O’Connor’s safety thinking has evolved significantly. “Early in my career, I viewed safety in black-and-white terms, with only one right answer. Over time, I came to understand that safety is more like a recipe—an abundance of ingredients that, when combined properly, result in something as satisfying as a well-made pastry.” This approach emphasizes comprehensive attention: “You must give equal attention to the small details and the big ones. A job worth doing is one done safely.”

Stop Work as an Obligation

O’Connor’s team operates under elevated safety authority: “All employees have a ‘Stop Work Obligation.’ They’re not just empowered to stop working in questionable situations—they’re obligated to do so.” 

Success requires responsive leadership. “A call from an employee should never be seen as a bother; it’s an opportunity to build trust and foster a positive work environment.” 

Family-Centered Leadership

The Jankovich Company’s culture reflects O’Connor’s 30-year tenure and deep relationships. “We’ve always thought of our work group as a family, and we want every member to go home the same way they arrived.” 

With average employee tenure exceeding 15 years, O’Connor has witnessed colleagues’ entire life journeys—from single to married, parents to grandparents, with some employees’ children joining the company. 

“We care about our coworkers as we would our own brothers and sisters,” O’Connor concludes. “Safety is the foundation on which we all build success.” 

Previous
Share Article:
Next
×
Cookies
We serve cookies. If you think that's ok, just click "Accept all". You can also choose what kind of cookies you want by clicking "Settings".
Settings Accept all
Cookies
Choose what kind of cookies to accept. Your choice will be saved for one year.
Save Accept all