| How to turn your safety program into a profit center |
Seven low-cost and no-cost ideas for enhancing your
Safety Training and Awareness “Investment”
contributed by Scoggily Vitchum, Detroit, Michigan
When I was placed in charge of the bag section, (Part one, article 2: A poor lost time injury nearly closed us down) I spoke with our risk manager and our accountant about how to reduce compensation costs.
The accountant's insights were valuable. He showed how reducing compensation costs could turn a losing proposition into a winner. He made me see that turning a profit is all about reducing costs—wherever you can. Every time you reduce costs in any area, you turn that area into a profit earner. You could literally turn your safety program into a profit center, just by reducing accidents!
Our risk manager convinced me that sweeping minor injuries under the carpet is not the way to save compensation costs. The only safe way to reduce these costs is to work safely.
We together came up with an approach to dramatically reduce compensation costs.
Here is our list. You may find it helpful.
Call your people together and lay it on the line
I called my people together. They were mostly immigrants who would put up with all sorts of suffering to stay employed. My biggest concern wasn't just that they could be injured, but that they would remain stoically silent about it to save their jobs. However, I knew that sweeping minor injuries under the carpet was causing more serious problems, eg. the carpal tunnel injuries that could not be ignored. We had to work safely. It was do or die time.
Identify your most costly lost-time injuries
Seek out the workplace hazards that have the potential to cost
you most lost-time injuries—and profits. Don't just rely on your observations. Check your company records to see where the highest cost lost-time injuries have occurred.
Remember the 80/20 rule.
In nearly every workplace, 80% of lost time injuries are caused by roughly 20% of activities or workers. Find that costly 20%!
Make your #1 objective the elimination of these high cost hazards
If you can shave 80% from your workers compensation bill just by correcting 20% of safety hazards, doesn't that make sense?
Tailor-make your safety efforts around high risk factors
Keep your most serious and costly safety issues front and center. See what engineering and administrative controls you can implement to reduce your associates' exposure to these hazards.
Train and sensitize workers to safety issues
Remind workers constantly and inescapably of the need to work safely. Take advantage of every opportunity to reiterate
safety rules and safe working procedures. Pay especial attention to high-risk factors.
Use a theme approach
Follow a balanced program that includes participation, education and motivation. Make it constant and ongoing. Take one safety issue at a time, and focus attention on this topic. Begin with the highest risk factors.
Cover all the bases
Keep a watchful eye open for other safety lapses that can creep up and surprise you. All work related accidents are costly.
Help your associates see that it is their safety program
Involve all your workers. Show that a safe workplace is in their interests as well as yours. Give workers the responsibility and the incentive to work safely and to watch out for the safety of their fellow workers.
Successful Safety Professionals insist that to create a safe, healthful workplace takes every employee's involvement and commitment! |
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