JLG Industries offers a new whitepaper, “Adopting a Culture of Safety”, which outlines six steps companies can take to create a safe, productive workplace. Topics addressed in the paper are how to adapt programs to meet safety expectations, implement strategies for training, coordinate successful shift-to-shift handoffs, plan for emergencies, utilize signage to keep people informed, and regroup to prevent repeat mistakes.
JLG points out the most effective workplace cultures aren’t the error-free ones. They are the ones who are relentless in their effort to learn and improve from mistakes as they happen—and, most importantly, they work to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here’s an overview of the topics discussed.
ADAPT YOUR PROGRAM
A careful assessment of your organization can start with asking questions about systems and processes already in place, along with building an understanding of what safety metrics are currently in use.
For example, if incident rates are the only measurement of safety, then the only actions being measured are those that happen after an accident has already occurred. A more powerful metric measures preemptive activities—the steps taken to help ensure an incident doesn’t happen in the first place. Then, when a safety-related measurement shows signs of a problem, action can be taken before an incident occurs and productivity is affected.
Because safety expectations can change quickly — EH&S (Environmental Health and Safety) programs and policies must adapt just as fast. By regularly revisiting your company policies, you can help keep your employees safe and empower your team to respond efficiently and quickly.
IMPLEMENT TRAINING STRATEGIES
Employees need to know what actions and activities might lead to unsafe practices. Once understood, a trained employee is more likely to embrace workplace safety because they are more able to identify breaches in protocol by themselves—and the effects that these actions can have upon their safety or those of their coworkers.
Proper training also helps ensure employees understand how safety protocols help the bottom line (both for the company and themselves).
Whether you’re teaching workers how to operate equipment safely or covering general workplace safety information, it’s important to provide accurate, clear training that engages your audience. Most learners appreciate variety. By having them participate in several different ways throughout the training, you’re reinforcing principles and encouraging an “aha” moment.
COORDINATE SHIFT HANDOFFS
Standards exist for a reason, and everyone must understand safety is no more or less of a concern for anyone in the company than anyone else.
Every employee should expect that everyone will adhere to established safety guidelines and be empowered to act when violations are witnessed. All employees must feel comfortable discussing potential problems and have adequate systems and policies in place to do so.
Successful shift-to-shift handoffs are one of the most essential tools companies can use to make sure that teams and leadership are communicating effectively about issues and opportunities. A shift handoff procedure should perform two functions. It defines each step of the handoff process and sets expectations for each person’s role in that process. It also identifies how these handoffs take place, whether it’s through a written report, a whiteboard meeting, an internal platform, or other method.
PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES
Both man-made hazards, such as chemical spills or electrical fires, and natural disasters, like earthquakes and tornadoes, are considered workplace emergencies. Although no one can ever be 100-percent prepared for an emergency, you can cut down on confusion and minimize danger by putting a solid plan in place long before an emergency happens.
The best way to be prepared in an emergency is to create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), a document that helps guide employees on the best course of action in the event of a workplace emergency. A successful emergency action plan is supplemented with robust training programs, employee drills, and clear communication about expectations and responsibilities during an incident.
When putting together an EAP, it’s important to determine the safest, most efficient way to evacuate an area if it becomes necessary, as well as to establish shelter-in-place procedures.
UTILIZE SIGNAGE
Every employee is a potential investment in the success or failure of a company’s safety initiatives. The core of this engagement is communication. Monthly or even weekly discussions may be necessary to help keep teams engaged.
There are many ways to communicate safety policies and goals to your team, from toolbox talks to in-depth safety training. One way to ensure teams across your organization receive a consistent, daily reminder is to create informative safety signage. When you post signs where a safety incident is most likely to occur—such as near equipment, in stairwells, and by entryways to PPE-required areas—you reach employees at the exact moment when they can make a positive safety decision.
REGROUP OFTEN
Revisit your safety shortfalls over the last five years and schedule the appropriate training and refresher courses. Though you likely addressed the issue shortly after the original incident occurred, your team may now have new members or may have forgotten how important a particular safety precaution can be. Get ahead of a potential recurrence by revisiting any problems with your staff today.
Use this time to incentivize your teams and leadership to actively do their part in creating and maintaining the safety culture. An employee who follows the right safety protocols should be rewarded for their behavior—after all, they are potentially saving the company from a significant loss in time, wages, and productivity, raised insurance costs, and more. Make sure to recognize these individuals for their important contributions.
SAFETY-FOCUSED CULTURE
A positive safety culture can be achieved within an organization of any size, but it is not something that can be completed overnight. It should be seen as a journey of continued improvement. The journey to a true safety culture is a marathon not a sprint.
for more information
For more detailed guidance on how to implement these strategies to establish a safety-focused culture in your company, download the complete JLG whitepaper, “Adopting a Culture of Safety”, at www.jlg.com.