A SAFETY CULTURE HOW HEALTHY IS IT IN YOUR COMPANY?

ALL THE CURRENT NEWS FROM EVERY SOURCE, THE RADIO, NEWSPAPER, TELEVISION AND EVEN IN ALMOST EVERYONES DISCUSSIONS IS ALL ABOUT THE H1N1 INFLUENZA. IT IS NOW BECOMING AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL EVENT IN ALL OF THE WORLD. 

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE , IT IS PART OF EVERY EMPLOYERS CULTURE BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS IT AND HOW DO YOU CHANGE YOUR SAFETY CULTURE TO BE THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE.

I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT SAFETY CULTURE AND I AGREE WITH THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE AUTHOR.  HE OBSERVED FOUR STAGES OF SAFETY CULTURE THAT COMPANIES ARE IN AND CAN BECOME STUCK AT EACH LEVEL OR TAKE THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT APPROACH AND DEVELOP YOUR SAFETY CULTURE TO IMPROVE AND  BECOME WORLD CLASS.

THE FIRST LEVEL OF CULTURE THE "FORCED SAFETY CULTURE" WHERE SAFETY IS DONE TO OTHERS BY COMMAND AND CONTROL. THESE COMPANIES SEE SAFETY AS A NECESSARY EVIL SO THEY DO THE MINUMUM REQUIREMENTS TO MEET THE REGULATIONS THAT  ARE PLACED ON COMPANIES BY LAW. MANAGERS OF THESE COMPANIES EXPECT COMPLIANCE FROM THE WORKERS.

THE SECOND LEVEL OF CULTURE IS THE "PROTECTIVE  CULTURE" WHERE SAFETY IS DONE FOR THE WORKERS. THIS COMPANY BEGINS TO SEE SAFETY AS IMPORTANT WITH SAYINGS "SAFETY IS #1" BUT CREDIBILITY IS LOST WHEN PRODUCTION OR OTHER PRESSURES TAKE FRONT SEAT FROM TIME TO TIME. SAFETY EMPHASIS IS ON THE ENGINEERING FIXES, DEALING WITH INJURIES AFTER THEY HAVE OCCURRED. MANAGERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE SAFETY PERFORMANCE IS MINIMAL.

THE THIRD LEVEL OF CULTURE IS "DONE WITH EMPLOYEE" AND ARE WELL DONE. MANAGERS SEE SAFETY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVOLVE ALL EMPLOYEES AND IMPROVED OVERALL MORALE. THE RESULTS OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE ARE PROBLEM SOLVING WITH QUICK RESPONSE TO IDENTIFIED CONCERNS. THIS ALMOST ALWAYS RESULTS IN REDUCED LOST TIME ACCIDENTS .

THE FORTH STAGE IS THE "DONE BY" WORKERS FOR THEMSELVES. THE PERFORMANCE RESULTS ARE WORLD CLASS. SAFETY COMMITTEES SEE  RESULTS WITH INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS, THEY ARE MOTIVATED AND ALSO TRAINED TO SEE ALL SIDES OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES. THIS GROUP ALSO TENDS TO STRIVE TO HAVE A BALANCE OF "HEALTH" WITH THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE COMMITTEE.

ALL COMPANIES ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF SAFETY CULTURE AND LIKE LEAN ARE ALWAYS IN A STATE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. A GOOD TO GREAT SAFETY CONSCIOUS COMPANY ALSO HAS  A CHAMPION THAT DRIVES THE SAFETY PROGRAM AS LONG AS HE/SHE IS SUPPORTED BY SENIOR MANAGEMENT. THE JOURNEY FROM EACH STAGE TAKES TIME AND COMMITMENT AND IT CAN BE DONE, OF COURSE WITH A MOTIVATED SAFETY COMMITTEE IT IS A LOT EASIER.