Tips on Developing the Best Safety Program for Your Facility

Many companies across the country have been recognized as “The Safest in America” over the years, for their dedication to making workplace safety a priority within their business. What’s the magic formula for success? It depends on the company, there is no single way to be the safest; however there are over arching themes that mostly all of the companies have in common.

Here are a few tips on how to develop the best safety program for your facility, as learned from the Safest Companies in America.

Go Beyond Compliance

While you are technically fulfilling your obligation by being compliant, sometimes that isn’t enough. Some OSHA regulations haven’t been updated for 20 or 30 years. Your workers lives could very well still be in danger. Go the extra mile and ask your workers if there are aspects of their jobs in which they feel that they are still over exposed to hazards and would like more protection.

Start from the Top

If your CEO doesn’t care about safety, neither will your managers or workers. A successful and sustainable workplace safety program only happens when it is enforces from the highest levels of a company. Set the tone from the top that procedures are important an must be followed because it is not only in the best interest of the workers but also the best interest of the company and its success.

Empower and Reward Employees for Making “Tough” Safety Decisions

It is not unheard of that workers are afraid to speak up or “waste” time with proper safety procedures out of fear that it will negatively impact production or a company’s bottom line. If a worker makes a call to “stop work” because a task is deemed too dangerous, don’t punish them for it, reward them! Make them aware that you support their decision and want to work towards a safer solution.

Make Comprehension a Priority

Not all workers are created equally, nor are the jobs they are hired to do. Some will need more time to grasp the safety principles that go along with their daily work tasks, or may need to learn by example. Be understanding of each of your workers’ individual needs in order to be their safest, most efficient workers. Allow them to shadow a more experienced worker, and continue to provide them the training and resources they need on a routine basis to keep them safe and maintain a clear understanding of the safety expectations within their position.

Track and Verify Effectiveness and Safety Performance

Implementing a program is not the tough part, sustaining it is. Once you have a good safety program in place, map out how you will maintain it. This should include input from all of your employees. Get managers and higher management involved to perform annual safety “town hall meetings” or surprise mock OSHA inspections to see how your program is doing and what ways it can be made better.  A feeling of involvement goes a long way in a safety programs long term success or failure.