Safety is what? Safety is a goal. Safety is a mentality. Safety is effort. Safety is a work in progress. Safety is something every company should treasure. A quick look around and you’ll see professionals, organizations, schools and businesses touting their unwavering dedication to safety. But what does that mean? Some will point to their low incident rates. Some will focus on record keeping and low fatality statistics. Whatever your definition of safety may be, in order to achieve your safety goals, you’re going to need everyone on board. So how do you create a genuine safety culture?
Alignment – The Safety Mantra
Your first step is to get everyone on the same page regarding what it is you consider a safe environment. If you are focusing on injury free days, is everyone in your company clear on what constitutes an injury? When they take a look at your new days since last accident sign, what do those numbers mean? Is an injury any incident that results in time off work? Is an injury any accident that involves administration of first aid? The answers to these questions will vary depending on where you are in the process. Set reasonable goals and get everyone involved from the start. If you had a lost time incident last month, focus on lost time injuries. If your last lost time accident was five years ago, you’re doing great, but it’s time to do better. Start focusing on any injuries that require first aid. The key here is to set reasonably achievable and clearly defined safety goals.
Here is an example of a reasonable mantra.
• All lost time injuries are preventable
• Every individual is responsible for their own safety and the safety of others
• Injuries will never be considered “part of doing business”
• Regular safety meetings will provide a forum for blame free open communication about all safety concerns
• Every employee is entitled to take action when witnessing potentially unsafe behaviors or conditions
Ownership
You’re not operating in a bubble and there is ‘real business’ to be done. You must find ways to continually engage your employees and give them ownership of the process. You are striving for a culture where your employees choose to follow the rules and procedures because they own and genuinely value their safety, and not because it’s been mandated from on high.
Commit to ensuring that every employee goes home safe each and every day. Encourage employees to take responsibility for their behaviors by celebrating those who identify hazards and report and/or fix them as they are discovered. Give them the freedom and courage to speak up or take action when they witness unsafe behaviors secure in the knowledge that they have the full backing of management.
Hard Work
You must support your safety goals with action and hard work. Remember your goal is a safe work environment. Creating and maintaining a culture that strives for continual improvement demands taking action and demonstrating care on a daily basis. Policies, procedures, and zero incident rhetoric mean nothing if not backed by genuine concern and a commitment at all levels.
Rinse & Repeat
So you’ve met your goals. You’ve talked with employees and are confident everyone is on board. You’re injury statistics are trending down, and concerns at regular safety meetings are few and far between. Now it’s time to hone those goals and repeat the process with new and improved objectives. Until you’ve stopped ordering band aids, your job is never done.
Learn more: ACCIDENTS – It Can’t Happen to Me
OSHA Safety Training & DOT, Oil & Gas, Maritime, Forklift, Construction & HAZMATFrom OSHA Safety Series Training and Federal Title 29 CFR to Forklift Safety, to Petrochemical and Maritime OSHA Compliance, we have Books, Manuals, CDs, DVDs, Videos, Training Materials, Safety Kits, Forms, Safety Posters & much more to make sure that your are compliant with not only the Department of Labor and Department of Transportation rules and regulations but also keeping you properly informed about how to properly protect your workforce on a day-to-day basis. Whether its a construction site, hauling hazardous waste or working as a longshoreman, there are specific federal rules and regulations that need to be followed and kept up-to-date with. We are here to make sure that you have available the most most up-to-date, thorough, yet easy to understand material and information on the ever-changing codes of the CFR.
Books, DVDs, Update Services on DOT/49 CFR Standards, Petrochemical and Maritime Regulations, Cal/OSHA Safety Regulations, 1910 and 1926 Parts and much more!
Signs of heat exhaustion include pale, clammy skin, and heavy perspiration. The casualty may feel dizzy and nauseous. A headache or cramps in the abdomen or limbs are other possible symptoms of heat exhaustion.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention. Signs of heat stroke include an excessive rise in body temperature, a high fever that can cause permanent brain damage and/or death, hot, red, dry skin, confusion, difficulty talking or walking, or unconsciousness, as well as all the signs of heat exhaustion.
C.A.R.E. is an easy way to remember the order of lifesaving steps to take in an emergency situation when a casualty is not breathing or her/his heart has stopped. Always call 9-1-1 or activate Emergency Medical Services immediately in a life-threatening emergency. If possible, have another person make the call so that the primary Responder can begin the appropriate 
