In a word, yes. You know that a safe operation is a productive and profitable one. But how can you help keep your operations safe? Constantly communicate the safety message by using some of the same techniques exercised by OSHA: information, enforcement, and rewards—which are all forms of repetition.
Repeat safety information in dozens of channels throughout your organization, making sure it flows in all directions including downward, upward, and sideways.
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- Downward. This is the path initially established by management through its policies, work rules, training programs, handbooks, and other internal publications, bulletin board notices, public address announcements, etc. While some of these are developed and implemented at the corporate level, others may be the responsibility of department heads and supervisors. When management sets a good example, like wearing the hard hats required of the rank and file, it sends an effective downward message.
- Upward. Communication flowing in this important direction enables various levels of management to determine whether their safety messages are being received, correctly understood, and acted on. Among the “clues” that show understanding and action by workers are the questions and answers offered by trainees, as well as reports to supervisors of hazards such as spills, damaged tools, or problems with protective equipment. For organizations that have a suggestion system, the contributions dealing with safety indicate a desire—and an opportunity—for improvement that can benefit both workers and the company’s bottom line.
- Sideways. Horizontal paths, among workers on the same level of the organization chart, encourage fruitful exchange of experiences, both good and bad, that can lead to the rethinking, and thus to the improvement of, safety programs and sometimes even policies. One example is members of a safety committee sharing what they learned with their peers back on the floor. Another is the behavior-based approach in which employees monitor each other’s compliance with work rules.
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Enforcement of safety procedures is often a reaction to ineffective learning or behavior and frequently takes the form of reinforcement by retraining or in other words, repetition of training. The results of accident or near miss investigations are likely to show a need for repetition of the information and rules. The objective is not to assign blame but to prevent a similar occurrence.
Reward good behavior by recognizing it verbally and/or in writing—and repeating the specific safety behavior that you are rewarding. More tangible recognition of good work is even more effective, such as monetary rewards, payment of a percentage of savings that will result from an accepted suggestion, or gifts earned through incentive programs based on achieving a record number of days without accident or injury. Gifts can include movie tickets, caps or jackets (with the company name or logo), and meals hosted by management.
Repeat the safety message you have communicated in training throughout your company’s culture, and you will have a safer, healthier work environment.
Why It Matters?
- Around 6,000 U.S. employees die every year from workplace injuries.
- Around 50,000 die from illnesses caused by exposure to workplace hazards.
- Around 6 million workers suffer nonfatal workplace injuries, which cost U.S. businesses more than $125 billion annually.
- Effective training, with constant repetition of the safety message both in training and throughout company culture, can help reduce worker injuries and illnesses.