Customer satisfaction is No. 1 priority at Safety 1st Systems

The men and women of Safety 1st Systems CNMI, Inc. led by owner Richard A. Pierce. (Bea Cabrera)

Safety 1st Systems CNMI, Inc. is very clear in its focus: It is all about providing quality safety products of different industries and meeting customer satisfaction. This is their mantra in every product that they sell, not only on Saipan but on Tinian and Rota as well.

And that mantra includes carrying a full line of products in most areas of health and safety, whether in the workplace or for one’s personal safety.

“Safety should be everyone’s business and it should be a part of how we grow as individuals, taking care of everyday things,” said Safety 1st manager Emi Agulto. “We have what you need. You come in and you leave with what you came in for, no more no less, and customer satisfaction guaranteed.”

Safety 1st has fire safety products like fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, construction safety, first aid products, and hazardous material cleanup products, as well as personal protection equipment like work shoes, clothing lines and gloves, emergency lighting, and products to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, marine safety, eyewear, flashlights and law enforcement products, weather protection, safety signage, and hearing protection.

Standards in the safety industry evolves fast and Safety 1st ensures it grows with it. “We…make sure that…all our products are [OSHA]-compliant. We would undergo random and multiple inspections so we could comply with the standards that OSHA sets…or whenever an inspection would arise,” said Agulto.

Safety 1st’s biggest customers are government offices and departments such as the Commonwealth Health Center, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., and the Department of Public Safety, to name a few.

The company also has a price-match assurance.

“Our products are affordably priced and we can guarantee that, if anyone walks in and says a different price is being offered somewhere, we could either beat or match that price with anyone who comes in our door,” added Agulto.

Aside from safety products, Safety 1st goes the extra mile in providing safety consultation services, and respirator fit test training (qualitative and quantitative), respirator train the trainer, fall protection training and general industry OSHA training.

Safety 1st also performs portable fire extinguisher inspections, refilling, and canister hydrostatic testing.

Agulto said her team at the store also undergoes extensive product training because they are not selling products for the sake of having a sale—they sell products because the customer needs it.

 “Whether big companies, small companies, or even the walk-ins, they have the guarantee that our team will be able to help each and every one with their needs because the team undergoes extensive product knowledge training,” she said.

That means that, when the company sells you a flashlight, Safety 1st Systems will help you detail out its functions, use, etc.

“We will tackle whatever request any company would have. Whether that company is big or small, our company is capable of providing what they need,” she said.

“Our team works well together as we are like family. I treat everyone as if we are a family so communication and working toward the same goal are our strengths,’ she added.

Safety 1st Guam manager David Sellers echoes this, saying that safety is a serious business for the company because, when talking about safety, “we are talking about people’s lives and  that’s the reason why OSHA exists, to make sure that all workers are safe in any type of job they do and Safety 1st is here to provide all the safety products.”

Agulto reiterates Sellers’ concern about keeping lives safe. “Safety is something we need to always put in our minds. You always have to be prepared, whether at work, school, [or] home and make sure you are surrounded by safety equipment as simple as a first-aid kit,” she said.

Sellers is a constant presence at the Saipan branch, giving advice to make sure that the operations is going smoothly under Agulto’s management., provide training and supplies support from the Guam office.

Richard A. Pierce originally opened Safety 1st Systems Saipan, Inc. in 1993 as Saipan’s first full-service health and safety store. In 2008, Safety 1st Systems Saipan, Inc. merged with Safety Products Micronesia to form today’s Safety 1st Systems CNMI, LLC. The new company is owned by Pierce and Manu Melwani in Guam.

Safety 1st Systems is located on Middle Road (across Bank of Hawaii). They are open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm. Call them at (670) 235-6500.