- NextStar Energy hosted its first North American EHS Symposium on October 1–2 at its Windsor, Canada facility, bringing together EHS representatives across LG Energy Solution’s North American operations and South Korea.
- Through site reviews, interactive EHS activities and the Problem-Solving Lab, participants shared best practices and developed practical approaches to common workplace safety and environmental challenges.
NextStar Energy hosted the inaugural 2026 North American Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Symposium on October 1–2 at its facility in Windsor, Canada. The event brought together a total of 25 EHS representatives from LG Energy Solution’s North American operations and South Korea to share best practices and address workplace challenges through interactive programs designed to promote cross-site learning and collaboration.
How EHS Teams Share Best Practices and Lessons Learned Across Sites
During the symposium, EHS teams from LG Energy Solution’s global sites shared case studies on best practices for workplace safety and environmental management, analyzing lessons learned and discussing how different workplaces had addressed similar challenges.
On day one, colleagues from LG Energy Solution and NextStar Energy connected for the first time in person before presenting their site-level experiences for discussion. By comparing different solutions to shared battery manufacturing safety and environmental issues, the teams identified new approaches and shared lessons to help prevent similar issues from recurring at different sites.
How “Floor Review – EHS Discovery” Identifies Site Strengths and Opportunities
The “Floor Review – EHS Discovery” enabled colleagues to examine environmental and safety practices during a tour of NextStar Energy’s battery production site. The visiting EHS specialists identified environmental and safety strengths that could be applied to other LG Energy Solution facilities while discussing opportunities for improvement. The aim of the tour was not “inspection” but “discovery,” encouraging open observation and exchange among participants.
In post-tour feedback, participants highlighted the LOTOTO (Lockout/Tagout/Tryout) training area and emergency response and rescue training as opportunities across LG Energy Solution sites. The tour also provided practical insights into equipment safety design, safety inspections and role allocation across teams.
How the EHS Quiz and Group Activities Reinforce Safety Learning and Teamwork
To reinforce EHS knowledge and collaboration, the symposium also featured interactive activities including the “EHS Quiz Showdown.” Teams were assembled across NextStar Energy and LG Energy Solution to answer questions on EHS systems and safety protocols in South Korea, the U.S. and Canada, giving them a better understanding of regional differences in regulations and systems while enhancing safety through team-based learning.
Other practical sessions combined hands-on environmental and safety training with team-building exercises. The teams practiced fire extinguisher techniques and learned how to arrange accident-response action cards in order, before taking on collaborative challenges like paper tower building and charades, with prizes awarded to top-performing teams.
How the Problem-Solving Lab Develops Actionable Approaches to Common EHS Challenges
The Problem-Solving Lab, one of the symposium’s key programs, focused on addressing common EHS challenges identified through a pre-event survey of participating sites. The survey highlighted four areas for discussion: Safety Culture & Worker Engagement, Contractor Safety Management, Change Management & EHS Digital Tools, and Management Buy-in & Cross-site Alignment.
Teams formed across NextStar Energy and LG Energy Solution rotated through each topic to develop and refine ideas. By examining each issue from a different perspective and considering practical constraints that could arise in the field, the teams translated their discussions into concrete, actionable steps.
Rather than selecting a single best idea, the Problem-Solving Lab promoted a deeper discussion on EHS concerns shared across sites, serving as a starting point for practical solutions. The discussions identified strengthening management involvement in EHS and improving communication with contractors as key measures to support more systematic safety management and strengthen workplace safety practices.
“Each facility has unique experiences, successes, and challenges. Coming together is an incredible opportunity to learn from one another, discuss what’s working, and establish best practices across our entire organization,” said Danies Lee, CEO of NextStar Energy.
Why Cross-Site EHS Collaboration Matters
While operational environments differ across global facilities, the symposium demonstrated that many key EHS challenges remain universal across battery production sites. By exchanging experiences and lessons learned, participants identified common issues, compared approaches and developed practical solutions more efficiently.
Looking forward, the knowledge and lessons developed at individual sites can extend beyond a single workplace and become shared resources across the broader North American EHS network. Continued collaboration among sites will help strengthen cross-site learning and support safer, healthier workplaces across the region.
FAQ
Q: What was the 2026 North American EHS Symposium?
A: The 2026 North American Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Symposium was the first of its kind hosted by NextStar Energy. Held on October 1–2 in Windsor, Canada, the event brought together EHS representatives from LG Energy Solution’s North American operations and South Korea to share site-level experiences and address common workplace challenges.
Q: What activities were included in the North American EHS Symposium?
A: The symposium included presentations on site-level safety and environmental practices, the “Floor Review – EHS Discovery,” an EHS Quiz Showdown, hands-on group activities and a Problem-Solving Lab. These programs were designed to support cross-site learning, practical EHS knowledge and collaboration.
Q: What was the purpose of the “Floor Review – EHS Discovery”?
A: The program allowed participants to examine environmental and safety practices directly at the NextStar Energy production site. Rather than focusing on inspection, the review emphasized discovery by identifying site strengths, discussing opportunities for improvement and sharing practices that could be applied at other facilities.
Q: What EHS challenges did participants address in the Problem-Solving Lab?
A: Based on a pre-event survey, participants discussed four areas: Safety Culture & Worker Engagement, Contractor Safety Management, Change Management & EHS Digital Tools, and Management Buy-in & Cross-site Alignment. Teams assembled across organizations and roles to develop more concrete and actionable approaches to these shared challenges.
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