The 9 Keys to Improving Workplace Safety -
New Article 1/2008
Key 1: Visible, Active Senior Management
Involvement: If senior management never attends safety training, can safety be
claimed as an organizational value? Not to a frontline associate required to
attend. When senior managers begin to attend safety events or take five minutes
a week to conduct a safety walkthrough, opinions and behaviors do change...
[read more]
Key 2: Employee Involvement and Recognition:
Organizations with high incident rates or increasing insurance premiums
often identify the primary cause to be employee risk taking. Employers
often express, “We have a good safety program. We just want our
employees to be more careful!” So how do we get an employee to be more
careful? One way to limit risk taking is through an employee involvement
and recognition program...[read more]
The 10 Key Employee Safety Responsibilities
In order for a Safety Program to be
successful it takes an effort from both management and employees.
Management obviously has the major responsibility. It is management that
establishes the safety culture, provides leadership and sets the
tone.... [read more]
ABC's of Safety
When we start school one of the first
things we are taught is our ABC’s. They are the building blocks of our
ability to read. Without learning our ABC’s we are at an extreme
disadvantage in life. The ABC’s are so fundamental to learning that
often when faced with learning new tasks, we are told it is as simple as
ABC... [read more]
Cost Impact Of Safety
When I talk to potential new clients for our
consulting services, many times they are primarily interested in complying with
the various OSHA regulations. While complying with the OSHA standards is an
important objective in safety, this should not be the main focus of a Safety
Program. The chance of a small company being inspected by OSHA is not grea... [read more]
Identifying Occurrence Events
When I visit new client companies, I
often have the opportunity of touring the facility or work site with one
of the company's management employees. They are usually interested in
any physical hazards or safety violations I may observe during my tour.
I, however, am equally interested in observing the work behavior of the
employees...
[read more]
Making Safety Committees Work
One of the Nine Key Safety Program Parameters
that has been issued by the Division of Safety and Hygiene for Group Rated
Companies is employee involvement and recognition. It is believed that the more
involved employees are in the Safety Program, the more willing they will be to
participate in it and follow the guidelines established. I personally believe
this... [read more]
Major Elements of an Effective Safety Program
Safety, like any other management
function, has key elements that need to be followed in order for the program to
be successful in helping a company achieve its Corporate Mission. Too often,
however, companies do not have an understanding of the importance of each of the
elements of a Safety Program. Many companies have pieces and parts but not all
of the necessary elements...
[read more]
Motivating Employees To Work Safely
When I visit my clients and new prospects, I
always stress the importance of developing the proper attitude towards safety. I
cannot stress this enough. Attitude greatly influences behavior and safe work
behavior is the most critical factor to a successful Safety Program. I have
found out that changing employee safety behavior is one of the hardest things
there is to do... [read more]
Planning For Success
One of the hardest things any company has to
do each year is to plan for the future. There are so many variables to take into
consideration: changes in the economy, changes in legislature, competition, new
products and services, changes in population and changes in what people want.
Products and services come and go, people move and government policies change...
[read more]
Regular Safety Communication
One of the keys to a successful
safety program is regular communication between management and
employees. Employees need to be kept up to date on safety-related
programs, policies, accidents and the overall effectiveness of the
company safety efforts. Ongoing safety training is also an important
element that needs to be part of your company’s communication efforts...[read
more]
Reviewing The Nine Key Safety Parameters
In 1996, the Division of Safety and Hygiene
mandated that each association sponsoring a Group Rating Program promote and
encourage their group members to implement the Nine Key Safety Program
Parameters. These have been reviewed in the past, but it is time to take a look
at these program parameters again...
[read more]
Safety Have To Vs. Want To
Like most people, I hate doing things I
dislike or am forced to do. There just isn’t any enthusiasm or passion. I
remember when I was growing up, I had to cut the grass and weed the sidewalk. I
hated it, but I knew that the consequences were not going to be good when my dad
got home from work. It seems like it took forever to get the mowing and weeding
done...[read more]
Safety Programs In The Workplace
Almost 4.4 million people were injured at
work in 2003, which cost employers approximately $43 billion, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite this large number, many small businesses do
not have safety programs... [read
more]
Safety Tips For Winter Driving
The potential for bad weather at this
time of year brings with it an increased threat of vehicle accidents.
This is the most dangerous time of the year. Inclement weather is a
major factor in many of the serious accidents that occur each year. The
Ohio Department of Highway Safety indicated that over 30,000 vehicular
accidents occurred during snowy and icy road conditions...[read
more]
Salary Continuation Policy
One of the best ways to reduce future
workers' compensation cost is to establish a Salary Continuation Policy. The
Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation allows companies to pay salary continuation
in lieu of workers' compensation payments. Those companies that set up a salary
continuation policy can greatly reduce future claim costs...
[read more]
Superman Can't Fly
I grew up in the 1960’s when the original
Superman series was on television every day. Like most young boys of that time,
I wished that I could have supernatural powers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have
the ability to jump tall buildings in a single bound, be faster than a speeding
bullet and be more powerful than a locomotive. Hours and hours of play time were
devoted to playing Superman... [read more]
Weight Loss & Better Health
I find myself among the growing number of
baby boomers who are reaching the age in life when retirement is not far
off in the future. In fact, a growing number of people my age are
already starting to take early retirement. Like many, I find it
increasingly more important to do the things that keep my body in shape
so that when I do retire, I can enjoy my life to the fullest...
[read more] |
