Safety Alert

Last week, as I was enjoying late-night television, the show I was watching was interrupted with a blank screen and an ear-piercing tone signaling an emergency alert.

“This is a test – this is only a test” was followed by instructions identifying the steps to take should an actual emergency occur. The Emergency Alert System is a safety program designed to ensure the least amount of calamity in the event of an interruption in work flow. We are exposed to a component of the program each time the television or radio station is interrupted to test the system.

Likewise, an effective safety program is essential to help employers prevent workrelated accidents that may interrupt daily work schedules and productivity. Time lost from work due to work-related injuries and illnesses is costly. When you add in the inconvenience of unexpected OSHA visits, costly fines and penalties, and the probable increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, the benefit of having a solid program in place far outweighs the risks involved in the alternative.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the construction industry experienced more than 31,000 work-related injuries and illnesses in 2008; of them, the three top causes for lost time incidents were 1) repetitive motion, 2) contact with object or equipment, and 3) overexertion (BLS, 2008). The trend shows, however, that work-related injuries are declining from year-to-year across most industries due to an increase in effective safety programs.

In designing a safety program, it is important to remember that it is not enough to simply have a program in place. The most successful programs are those that become a way of thinking – part of the company’s philosophy – and are supported by an engaged top-level management team. All employees need to understand the company’s safety objectives and how incidents impact profitability.

We offer the acronym ALERT to identify the key components of a successful safety program. You can help your employees remember their roles to create and maintain a safe and healthful environment by designing your own program with the use of a selected theme or acronym that is easy to remember. For example, the acronym ALERT with the phrase “Stay ALERT” can be used to present a call-to-action to your employees. Post the phrase on bulletin boards, T-shirts or baseball caps or display a banner on the shop floor. By creating fanfare around your phrase, you will be more successful in establishing employee ownership of safety in your workplace.

• Awareness: Creating a sense of awareness among your employees and workteams is essential in lowering risk and reducing injuries and illnesses caused by carelessness. Establish a safety committee and require consistent feedback, safety inspections and tailgate meetings, and post the results of inspections and corrective action.

• Liability: Liability is two-fold – for employees in the form of unnecessary injuries, and for the employer in the form of lost productivity and costs related to increased risk. Working in an unsafe manner leads to increased incidents, resulting in work-related injuries – the employees’ injuries. Encourage your employees to take ownership of their own health and safety. Understanding that everybody is liable is a key component in ensuring that everybody is actively engaged in safety protocol.

• Effort: In order to ensure the best success of any initiative, consistent effort by all parties is required. Talk about safety often. Reward employees who actively participate in your safety program. Effort equals effectiveness.

• Responsibility: Safety in the workplace is everybody’s responsibility. Management cannot achieve results without the employees’ participation and the employees cannot achieve results without the management support.

• Training: Consistent training of topics relating to safe practices is a key component of a successful safety program. Develop guidelines in writing and communicate them to your employees. A solid foundation suggests at least quarterly training sessions and may consist of outside vendors, peer presentations and management facilitated training as delivery methods. Make sure that your employees have access to the proper tools and protective equipment to operate in a safe manner.

Safety systems do not need to be complex in order to be effective. By actively involving your employees and by clearly stating your safety objectives, you can help your company and your employees take responsibility to ensure a zero accident environment. It all starts with a word – ALERT.