Evaluate Your Progress!!

If you are not measuring your performance,

you can't evaluate your Progress

Using the "Systems Approach" to Safety means you develop systems, assign responsibility, measure performance, recognize achievements, and hold everyone accountable.  If you are not measuring, then how can you determine if you are achieving your Goals and Objectives?  If you are not measuring, then how do you even know if what you are doing is even working to improve your safety process?

An effective procedure for tracking hazard correction is in place.

All hazards are tracked to completion, monitored for progress and posted on safety boards for all employees to see.  OR Make a spreadsheet or database to track all identified hazards to completion.  Some items may require budgeting and must be presented to the safety team to prioritize which ones will be fixed immediately and which need to be budgeted.  Always use some form of “interim protection” until the hazard can be fully and adequately corrected.  


Workplace injury/illness data are effectively analyzed.

Data trends are fully analyzed and displayed, common causes are communicated, management ensures prevention; and employees are fully aware of trends, causes and means of prevention.  OR  Review several years of injury or illness records to identify patterns that can help you devise strategies to improve your safety and health program. Periodically review several months of experience to determine if any new patterns are developing 


Hazard incidence data are effectively analyzed.

Hazard surveys, regular inspections, and other hazard incidence data are fully tracked,  analyzed, and displayed, common causes are communicated, management ensures prevention; and employees are fully aware of trends, causes and means of prevention.  OR  Review several years of hazard survey records, self inspection records, and other hazard reported data  records to identify patterns that can help you devise strategies to reduce and/or eliminate the hazards. Periodically review several months of experience to determine if any new patterns are developing.  (Employers who post all hazards, corrections, and responsibility for the corrections find that employees know about the hazards and continue to report hazards for correction)



A safety and health goal and supporting objectives exist.

Continue to develop annual Goals and Objectives to support the goals based on the annual review with both management and employee involvement and maintain an action plan to measure progress and hold everyone accountable.  Remember that SMART safety goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Targeted! Review the Safety & Health Mgt. Recommendations included in this or previous reports to ensure they are included in your annual goals and objectives.   (I.e.-Implementation of a written housekeeping program to control potential for fugitive dust is recommended)  

An action plan designed to accomplish the organizations safety and health objectives are in place. 

Continue to develop your annual action plan which should include the specifics for your goals and objectives with assignment of responsibility and time targeted so that you can monitor progress. What get’s measured, gets done, so be sure to monitor progress throughout the year and hold everyone accountable for their part.

*A review of the overall safety and health management system is conducted at least annually.  

A comprehensive review is conducted at least annually and drives appropriate program modifications.  Continue to conduct an annual review of S/H Program to determine where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to be.  This should include but is not limited to:  conducting a trend analysis of ALL work related injury/illness including near miss or first aid cases, identified hazards, work orders, ergonomic concerns, behavioral aspects, Current or pending regulations, the form 33, and air/noise monitoring or the need to conduct it.  (If this is effectively done, you would update your written Safety and Health Program to reflect findings and modifications)

Safety and health program tasks are each specifically assigned to a person or position for performance or coordination.

Let's say for example, some electrical and machine guarding hazards were found during the walk through.  No one was assigned specific responsibility to inspect for electrical hazards.  Assign specific responsibility for performing inspections of electrical and machine guarding hazards, so these hazards do not continue to go undetected.  (The intent is to assign specific safety tasks to specific individuals and to hold that individual accountable.  Such as inspections for the hazards found during the walk through) 

Safety Leadership Training

Safety Leadership Training

"Leadership is the ability of a single individual, through their actions to motivate others to higher levels of achievement!"

“A MANAGER focuses just on getting a task done, a LEADER focuses on getting it done in a way that gives employees a feeling of accomplishment and willingness to follow the leader again.”

Leadership is a job requirement:

• Supervisors have a major influence/impact on;

–      Regulatory compliance,

–      Meeting the safety goals,

–      Injury prevention,

–      Absenteeism,  and

–      Workers’ compensation costs

The Supervisor is:

•      First point of contact: EH&S policies

•      Supervisor direct impacts employee performance: 

–      Enforce compliance with EH&S policies

–      Communicate expectations

–      Set the proper example

–      Follow the policies, procedures & rule

•      MUST have a PROFOUND Knowledge of policies and procedures to prevent serious or life-threatening situations

What do employees want from their jobs?

1. Appreciation
2. Recognition
3. Involvement with the company
4. Comfortable work environment
5. Money

Are You Coaching Safety Behaviors or Just Enforcing the Rules?

If we want to motivate them toward higher levels of commitment to their own safety and the safety of those around them then we have to move beyond compliance-based coaching.  We must change the focus of our coaching from compliance-based behaviors to safety leadership behaviors.

It's mostly about building TRUST

Building employee engagement for a stronger safety culture

Understanding and using safety-leadership styles

Developing our “leadership presence” in safety communication

To build TRUST, you must EARN the employee's RESPECT

• Respect isn’t automatically given to a leader because of authority
• You have to earn respect and confidence of personnel working for you by setting a good example.
• Lead your workers; don’t drive them.
• Always remember, everyone wants to be treated as an individual that has worth.
• Emphasize each person’s importance in getting the job done.

REMEMBER to teach the individual - not to embarrass

• Praise in public
• Reprimand in private

PROMOTE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

• PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO YOUR PERSONNEL
• TWO TYPES OF FEED BACK ARE? 

POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE

• REWARD YOUR SAILORS

When employees do not seem to be following directions,

·         perhaps they didn’t understand the directions

·         they may not realize that the supervisor is giving them an order.

**My pet peeve is a supervisor who reprimands or blames an employee for not working safely when the employee did not even get any training on the Job Safety Analysis so the employee would know the safe way to perform the tasks!!!

Or another good one is when you throw all the employees in a hot break room for training on a Friday just an hour before the end of the shift.  How effective do you really think the training will be?  It is the end of a long work week, employees are hot and tired and ready to get home to start their weekends.  They won't be paying much attention.

 

Safety Ambassador Program

What is a Safety Ambassador Program?

Implementing a Safety Ambassador Program will provide our company with a systematic approach to employee involvement in all of our safety activities.

PROGRAM PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Safety Ambassador Program is to facilitate employee involvement in the company's overall Safety System (Safety Management System).  The company recognizes that employee involvement is the key to a strong Safety System.  The company will designate certain employees as Safety Ambassadors who will provide assistance by identifying and eliminating hazards in the work area and to assist in the accident prevention program as part of the *Company* Safety System.

PROCEDURE:

1)      General

a)      Safety information will be supplied on a regular basis.

b)      Safety problems and suggestions should normally be directed to the supervisor.  However, those items which need further consideration may be directed to the Safety Ambassador.

c)       The Safety Ambassador will conduct an Inspection/Observation weekly to identify hazards, with special emphasis on housekeeping and behavioral aspects.  Corrective action will be taken during the I/O.  Supervisors must be notified of findings and sign forms.  Forms must be submitted to the Safety Committee at the monthly committee meetings.

d)      Supervisors are responsible for selection of their Safety Ambassador.  Selection is with the concurrence of the Safety Director.

e)      Safety Ambassadors will serve on a rotation, to allow all employees the opportunity to become involved in our overall Safety Management Process.

2)      Duties and Qualifications of Safety Ambassadors

·         The Supervisors will be responsible for conducting training for the Safety Ambassadors.  This will include compliance issues, inspections/observations, problem solving, ergonomics, maintenance procedures, and behavioral risks. 

·         Safety/Health meetings will be held every month. 

·         The meetings will be held at company on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 12:00- 1:00 pm.

·      The purpose of the safety meetings will be to discuss Safety Goals/Objectives, Inspection/Observation findings, specific safety issues, to analyze accidents and near misses to determine root cause and corrective actions, to discuss safety training schedules and training needs, to discuss pending OSHA regulations/requirements.

·         The objective of a Safety Ambassador is to help identify & eliminate safety issues in the work area.  Ambassador’s activities will focus on housekeeping, employee behavioral aspects, physical conditions, monthly inspections/observations, and departmental safety meetings

·         Must set a high standard of safety by his/her work habits and practices

·         Must be acquainted with personnel and facilities in the areas he/she works

·         Must be physically capable, with a positive attitude to perform required skills

·         Must be alert, dependable and willing to help others

·         Will regularly attend scheduled Safety Ambassador meetings and/or Safety Committee Meetings

·         May bring to the meeting questions, problems, suggestions, new safety ideas/suggestions, etc. that may need the attention of, or will benefit, the entire group

·         Will assist supervisors in detecting unsafe conditions and actions at all times, not just when conducting the weekly I/O and will suggest needed safety improvements

Author:  Deborah Grow, Safety Specialist

 

Why a Gap Analysis?

Why conduct a "Gap Analysis"?

If you don't, then you will have no idea if what you have been doing has been effective. You need to know what is working well and what is not working in order to adjust your plan!

 

What Gets Measured Gets Done

AND

What Gets Celebrated Gets Done Well

Measure what you ask the employees TO DO… that will help you eliminate the hazards and create a safe workplace. Remember that SMART safety goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Targeted!

 

 

 

 

Author: Deborah Grow, Compliance Specialist

Private Safety Consultant, Assistant Damon Fall Protection and Coordinator EHS Network ~ Kansas.

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