Conduct Self Assessments/Bench Marking
In order to get where you want to go, it is essential to know where you are starting from.
You can use a variety of self-audit mechanisms to compare your site processes with other recognized models of excellence such as SHARP sites or Star VPP sites.
Visiting other sites to gain first hand information is also invaluable.
You can use perception surveys to measure the strengths and weaknesses of your site safety culture.
These surveys can give you data from various viewpoints within the organization. For instance, you can measure differences in employees' and managers' perceptions on various issues.
This is an excellent way to determine whether alignment issues exist and, if so, what they are. One example is the Safety and Health Program Check Up.
At this stage, it is important to look at issues that surface as symptoms of larger system failures. For example, ask what major system failed to detect the unguarded machine, or why the system failed to notice that incident investigations are not being performed on time, or if workers are being blamed for the failures. Your greatest level of success will come when these larger system failures are recognized and addressed.
Author: Deborah Grow, Safety Compliance Specialist
Private Safety Consultant, Assistant Damon Fall Protection and Coordinator EHS Network ~ Kansas.
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