Dana Gunderson
General Manager and Sr. Human Resources Manager, Epiroc
Dana joined Epiroc in 2007 after the successful integration of two of the top Italian cheese manufacturing companies in the United States. Epiroc, a Swedish manufacturer of mining and infrastructure equipment, acquired the facility in November 2022. Dana earned a Bachelor’s degree in Retail Studies and Business Administration from UW Stevens Point. During her career, she has been responsible for all human resource and safety functions for La Mirada, CA, Sioux Falls, SD and Mosinee, WI business units. In late 2024, Dana became the interim General Manager for the facility. She also has direct human resource responsibilities for Mosinee, WI and assists with recruiting, training, safety, and legal issues throughout the entire division. She became a SafeStart Trainer in August 2023. Dana completed a six-year term as a board trustee for the Northcentral Technical College board and was involved extensively in the recruitment and selection of the local College President. She also worked for 5 years with the local United Way Allocations Committee and Competitive Grants Committee.
Dana's sessions
From Safety Shares to Safer Behaviors: A SafeStart Journey
Wed, Oct 21, 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM - Salon 9/10
Come and take a practical look at building a safety culture that goes beyond compliance and into everyday behavior. Using Epiroc’s journey as a backdrop, participants will explore how simple practices—like consistent safety shares in all types of meetings, from production to engineering—can reinforce a safety-first mindset across an organization. This session walks through key phases of a SafeStart journey, including preparation, implementation, and long-term sustainability. It challenges the common “check-the-box” approach to safety training and instead focuses on what it takes to genuinely influence behaviors at work, at home, and on the road. Participants will examine how to set meaningful goals for both team members and leaders—such as increasing engagement in near-miss reviews, strengthening participation in safety conversations, and creating an environment where reporting hazards is encouraged and expected. This session also highlights the role of leaders in responding quickly to concerns and empowering employees to stop work when needed. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen engagement, improve leading indicators, and create a culture where safety is owned by everyone. Participants can expect a “Stop Work” decision exercise as well as quick polls to surface mindsets, which will open the discussion within the room.
Presented by
Dana Gunderson, Epiroc
Deniale Steffen, Epiroc