Don’t Let Your Safety Program Overwhelm Your Team – 8/7/23

Safety E-Quick Tip

OWYN Safety Mgmt Platform

Don’t Let Your Safety Program Overwhelm Your Team

I’ve got a story for you today. Over the years, I’ve reviewed all sorts of safety programs from different companies. Some were short and sweet, only 10 pages long, while others seemed to go on forever, reaching hundreds of pages. But there was one program that I’ll never forget.

At first glance, it seemed like any other comprehensive safety program, just like the ones we provide to our clients. But as I dove into each section, I realized that almost half of the pages were filled with… drumroll… checklists.

Now, I’m all for documentation, but these weren’t your ordinary checklists. These were page after page of safety questions on every imaginable topic. I even stumbled upon a 12-page checklist that had smaller print than what you’re reading right now. And to add insult to injury, the first line on most of them said, “Complete at the beginning of each work shift.”

I couldn’t believe it. How was anyone supposed to get any work done when the paperwork alone would take an entire day to complete? Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but it would have taken hours.

So, I asked the person who presented me with this program, “How do you keep track of all this paperwork?”

And you know what they said? “We’ve never used this program.”

Naturally, I asked, “Why?”

Their response: “It was just too much.”

I wasn’t shocked, but it was still disheartening to hear that they had worked with a Safety Consultant for months to develop this program.

Now, if you’ve ever tried to put together a safety program at your company, you know it’s not easy. Between everything else you must do to keep your business running smoothly and the time, buy-in from management and employees, and the required support it takes to maintain a safety program, it can all be quite overwhelming.

So, what’s the solution? Well, my friend, it’s all about starting with the basics and building from there. Here are four steps that you can use as a foundation:

• Establish company safety policies and procedures: Keep it clear and straightforward. Identify the most essential safety policies and procedures for your company’s operations and start with those.
• Effectively communicate the policies and procedures to your employees: This is crucial. Make sure everyone understands the policies and procedures and knows how to implement them.
• Perform regular and frequent jobsite safety inspections: Keep an eye on your employees and jobsites, correcting any safety issues that may arise. This step helps to maintain a safe working environment.
• Employ consistent enforcement or reinforcement procedures: Set clear expectations and consequences if an employee violates the safety policies and procedures.

By following these four steps, you’ll have a program that includes structure, education, responsibility, and accountability. What more could you ask for from a company safety program?

As I mentioned before, developing, implementing, and maintaining an ongoing safety program isn’t easy. So, let’s keep it simple. Your checklists should be short and to the point, definitely not 12 pages long with fine print.

Remember, always keep each step as simple as possible to make it effective. By doing so, you’ll be protecting your company’s most valuable assets: Employees… Reputation… and Profits.

Employee QuickTip

Taking responsibility for working in a safe manner is the first and most important step you can take to ensure your safety and those you work with.

Employer/Management QuickTip

The key to a safe workplace is keeping safety simple, focused on hazards that employees are exposed to and getting everyone onboard and supporting the process.  Don’t try to do it alone.

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Thanks for Reading and Please – “Be Safe this Week”.