Tap into your employee's knowledge and unleash the potential within every employee
If you seriously involve your employees in safety, your safety and health program will really take a leap in the direction you want it to go!
A common misconception is that if you hire a Safety Manager or Safety Director, that she/he can single handedly change your safety performance. That is simply not true. The other managers and supervisors do not report directly to the Safety Manager or Safety Director. So, all she/he can do is try to motivate the leaders you have chosen to run your company to get on board with safety. All the Managers & Supervisors must motivate everyone that reports to them to participate in the Safety Activities!!
Everyone is responsible for safety! Everyone in the workplace should have some responsibility for safety and health. Clear assignment helps avoid overlaps or gaps in accomplishing activities. Safety and health is not the sole responsibility of the safety professional. Rather, it is everyone's responsibility, while the safety professional is "a resource". The safety professional should facilitate the activities that will lead your company in the direction you want to go! However, the safety professional is not single handedly responsible for your safety performance.
Leadership is the ability of a single individual, through their actions to motivate others to a higher level of achievement! Enthusiasm is contagious! Recognition motivates people to do better and to exceed your expectations. A safety culture is built through the establishment of a fundamentally sound safety program
Management commitment (All managers and supervisors must be held accountable for safety performance BEFORE you can hold employees accountable. Many of the things that it takes to improve your overall safety performance and reduce accidents, takes money and management is in total control of the money, the employees have little control over what safety equipment is purchased or how much time is devoted to training or performing the necessary safety activities it will take to reduce accidents)
Policy statement (Everyone is responsible for safety and everyone is expected to participate in safety activities. Safety is not optional)
Program goals (Specific~Measurable~Achievable~Realistic~Time Targeted) Remember that What gets measured gets done. What gets' recognized gets done well
Employee training (First focus training on hazard recognition and reporting. Employees learn better by visual and practice. Teach Back & Games most effective in retaining information)
Employee recognition: Participation + Recognition=Motivation to Excel. People will go above and beyond expectations to be recognized for their efforts. (The only way to change the safety culture is to get the employees motivated and involved in safety. The best way to motivate employees is with positive recognition for stepping up for safety)
Hazard analysis / correction: People don’t do what you EXPECT, they do what you INSPECT. Inspections should be done in EVERY area at least EVERY week-Identifying and correcting hazards will reduce or eliminate potential for an employee to have an injury. If you are not finding hazards, you aren't looking very hard!
Author: Deborah Grow, Safety Compliance Specialist
Private Safety Consultant, Assistant Damon Fall Protection and Coordinator EHS Network ~ Kansas.
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