How to Develop an Effective Safety Program A successful safety program is a process management MUST completely buy into and support. If management does not "get it" and does not pay attention to it, your program will not happen. Safety must be equal in priority to quality and production. Safety must be integrated into, and work with, all areas of the operation. Safety must be a core value of the organization, a continuous effort and a way of doing business. An effective safety program includes employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and training for employees, supervisors and managers. After you obtain senior management's full commitment and support, and communicate that commitment to employees, you can start to develop a safety program. Be sure to involve employees throughout the process. Initial Assessment 1. Review all existing safety programs, if applicable, and identify gaps. Determine if there was support for the program, and if not, why. 2. Determine the needs and objectives of the new program (remember to research regulatory requirements!). It is helpful to review loss history to look for trends. "Near Misses," — accidents that didn't occur, but could have, can give a good indication of inadequate hazard controls. 3. Establish attainable program goals. Zero injuries or illnesses may not be a realistic goal, but "below Bureau of Labor rates" is certainly achievable. See Safety Resources http://reduceyourworkerscomp.com/resources.php for specific regulations. Assignment of Roles & Responsibilities While the ultimate responsibility for safety lies with all of management, designate someone to lead the safety process (i.e., safety director, safety team leader). If you do not already have someone in place, safety professional or consultant. A trained safety professional or consultant can readily identify issues through hazard evaluation. In addition, s/he can help with prioritization and risk assessment to ensure your organization gets the most impact for any dollars spent. The critical role of the plant manager and the first-line supervisors cannot be overstated. They need to have a working knowledge of OSHA's regulations and the skills to implement a safety program. (workersxzcompxzkit) Using a team approach, decide who is going to do what, when, and how. Use Action Plans to help keep the process on track. This is CRITICAL — if you don't use a Timetable, the process will almost certainly get stalled.
Author Robert Elliott executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
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