Safety first, safety last, and safety everywhere in between. Safety has to be more than an afterthought; it has to be an intrinsic component of every level of an organization’s culture. The only way to achieve a work environment that is focused on safety is to establish a comprehensive, multifaceted program with support from management and employee buy-in. There are numerous ways to achieve success in this endeavor.
- Set the agenda. Safety will be important when management makes it important. There has to be a purposeful move to be safety conscious from the highest level of management.
- Have genuine concern. The tone that is set within an organization is going ultimately to define the overall success of the program. If the program is viewed as another box to check on the management checklist employees will imitate that behavior.
- Involve the employees in the formation process. Every employee serves in a different role and fulfills differing responsibilities. It is the employee who will be able to identify potential risks related to their job that others may not be privileged to. Allowing employees to participate in the process will help to identify real risks and perhaps identify overreaching safety policies that are unnecessary.
- Write it down. It takes time to change the culture and even more time to modify behavior. Employees should have access to the safety plans for review of their risks and responsibilities.
- Identify all hazards. Place placards and warning labels in all areas where there is an increased chance of injury. The constant visual reminder of potential risks will reinforce and support awareness throughout the work day.
- New hires must be indoctrinated. The training an employee receives when processing into a company is vital. By conducting training as a mandatory condition of employment the employee will have an immediate impression of management’s priorities.
- Ongoing quarterly training. There should be a constant updating of safety standards as new risks are identified and new equipment is integrated into the workplace. Conducting regular training will make safety a second natured and reflexive behavior organization wide.
- Reward good behavior. The offering of incentives is a good way to put the spotlight on safety as a premier interest of the company’s goals. Employees respond well to recognition, and it is critical to reward the behaviors you want to promote.
- Have a zero tolerance policy. If an employee is recognized as a risk taker and continues to ignore the safety concerns and interests of the company that employee must be brought into compliance or terminated. An employee that will allow the safety of themselves or others to be jeopardized is an employee that does not have the interests of the company properly focused.
- Conduct unannounced inspections. One of the quickest ways to promote a culture of safety is to monitor its implementation continuously. When an employee faces the possibility of rewards or punishment based on an unannounced inspection, they will make the object of that investigation take a prominent role in their everyday work ethic.
Culture can change over time with a steady and measured implementation of policies, especially when the message is clear and all the employees are accountable. It is difficult to change a company over night, but safety is a subject that seldom gets debated in the workplace. Employees have a personal vested interest I being safe as they do not want to be harmed. The biggest issues with safety are the importance given to it and the ability to compel compliance. Employees often do the right thing when the supervisor is looking. With an issue like safety, it is imperative that employees buy into the program and conduct themselves in a safe manner even when no one is looking. Safety first, safety always, safety for all!
Ray Donato is charged with managing health and safety for an oil refinery his company operates – a place that is rife with safety hazards and makes his job challenging. To help deal with that challenge, he goes to www.ecompliance.com for software and consultation. You can learn more about Ray by visiting Google+.