A simple way to improve safety: Communicate your values
One of our clients, a large corporation, has adopted safety values rather than priorities. The difference between the two? Priorities change, values don’t. Every manager and worker is expected to live by these values as part of the company’s world-class safety program.
The values are on posters at their facilities and on 2-by-3-inch laminated cards distributed to employees. Here’s the list:
- “Safety first” is a Core Value at (Name of company).
- We believe that ALL incidents and injuries can be prevented.
- Safety is a personal responsibility. Management is accountable for results.
- Employee engagement and training is essential.
- Hazardous exposures can be eliminated or safeguarded.
- Prevention of incidents and injuries is the right thing to do and is good business.
Adopting safety values is a great foundation for a company safety program and other organizations may want to consider following suit. By expressing these ideas as core values, management underscores its commitment to safety and encourages employee engagement.
If you need advice on how to build these values into a practical safety program, give me a call, (513) 317-5644.
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4 Comments
I was at a job site once where there was a Hydrogen Sulfide hazard. Whole place smelled awful, as it was a brine well contaminated with Methyl Mercaptan as well. Long story short, the customer didn’t want to post signs saying, “Warning: Hydrogen Sulfide Hazard! Do not enter!” because it didn’t want to scare the residents.
Isn’t that the point of signs?! To scare people into being careful?
We’d love to have you over for a guest post on our blog: http://incidentcommander.blogspot.com . Send me an email if you’d be interested!
James
Hello there I like your statements above
Ah, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating…If you want to find an organization’s mission, values, and goals, the best place is the local thift shop where all the trinkets printing with MVG end up.
It is much harder to find an organization that actually implements their MVG by supporting employees in their quest towards meeeting the goals and mission while upholding the values. The only real way to demonstrate that is resource allocation. Unless the safety value becomes a priority, all is for naught.
The example you gave would ne improved if the Management responsibility was clearly defined–M. is responsible for allocating sufficient resources to meet these values.
(BTW, I have no idea what the M statement means as written.)
Norman
I will pass your main piece alongside to some of my close friends who are additionally health and safety aware. I’m positive they will recognize the value of it.