In the September issue of Professional Safety Magazine, Carol Boraiko, Tom Beardsley and Eva Wright submitted an article entitled “Accident Investigations; One Element of an Effective Safety Culture.” The article discusses the I Care program that GM implemented into their manufacturing facilities in 2004. The I Care program holds management partially accountable for accident investigation. It thrives on the theory that by demonstrating personal commitment to employee safety, managers show those involved in an incident that management cares. It must be made clear that the employer cares about the safety and welfare of all employees. When workers realize that their employer cares about their safety and health, they develop a trust with supervisors and are actively conscious of how their actions affect their safety. (Boraiko, Beardsley, Wright, Professional Safety, Sept 2008).
One way that companies can show that they care about safety is by implementing visible safety products into the work place. SlipNOT® non-slip metal flooring products are a noticeable way to show employees that safety is important. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics slip and fall injuries are the 3rd largest cause of workplace injury. The slip resistant metal floor plate, grating, stair treads, ladder rungs, drain covers and other products stand out from other safety products by exceeding OSHA and ADA slip resistant standards and emphasis the importance of keeping workers on their feet.
Over the past 20 years GM has been using SlipNOT® non-slip steel floor plates, grating, stair treads, trench covers, ladder rungs and catwalks among others. SlipNOT® metal safety flooring products are extremely efficient in stopping slip and falls in the oily automotive plant environments. SlipNOT® products are a visible safety precaution that GM has included in their safety program.
Since implementing the I Care program in 2004 the Body Systems Business Unit at a GM facility has seen their injury rate decrease from 4.91 to 3.97 and their lost-workday rate decrease from .87-.61. Does your business have room for an “I Care” program and safety products that support it?
Recently, many professionals from the Environmental Health and Safety Industry were surveyed, and asked “What is the most important thing you do to improve safety and health in your organization?” The specialists at Occupational Hazards put together a great synopsis of the results in the article titled “The National Safety Survey: You Talk and We Listen“. From OSHA concerns to education and training, no topic was off limits. Responses were varied, but very informative.
One of the top concerns of professionals in our industry was accident prevention and investigation. According to OSHA, in the United States, slip and fall accidents cause 15 percent of all work-related deaths and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. Though everyone understands how common slips and falls are in the workplace, not all Safety Professionals are addressing the issue to the best of their ability. For more information on Slip and Fall Prevention, please read the Stopping Slip and Falls White Paper.
Another main interest of Safety Specialists was the “Inclusion of safety in the design of processes or facilities”. Safety measures should be included in the design and initial construction of all facilities, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. The good news is there are plenty of safety measures that can be taken after the initial construction of your facility. Some safety concerns have simple solutions (covering exposed wiring with split wire looms) while others are more complex (replacing previous flooring with Metal Safety Flooring Products). Vigilant safety professionals can distinguish safety hazards that were created in the design and construction of their facilities, but it is understood that when safety professionals are consulted during the initial planning and construction of facilities, those hazards could be avoided all together.
A common response was “education and continuous training”. Ongoing education is an important aspect of any industry, but it can be the key to you and your employee’s health and safety when it comes to this industry! It is important to look into your options to promote ongoing safety education for your employees. You can organize Safety Weeks to get your whole company aware and involved in the learning, or provide Lunch and Learns to provide more detailed and specific information to smaller groups. Whatever your preferences or specific needs, the solution is out there waiting for you.
A response that is highlighted on the Occupational Hazards’ site was: “Assist in developing a SAFETY culture, believed in by all. Constantly strive for ZERO accidents, having all employees live with the goal of everyone being a safety manager.” Sounds like a great goal. When the Safety Industry talks, there are a lot of people who listen. Make sure your voice is heard. The health and safety of your company could depend on it.
