Creating a strong health and safety culture doesn't only reduce injuries; it helps keep your workers' compensation costs low.
Here are the necessary steps in establishing a safety culture:
Management support and direction — Management must be a role model for safety. This includes establishing the company's safety vision, goals and rules, as well as practicing what you preach in everyday safety practices.
Active safety committee — Safety committees should serve as a conduit for all safety efforts and companywide communication regarding safety. That's why all areas of the company must be represented on the committee.
Employee accountability and participation — Everyone must be accountable for safety in the workplace, and feel empowered to take steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of their fellow employees
Ongoing safety training — Routine, effective training must be available (and mandatory) for all employees
Comprehensive claims management — Having a written claims management policy and a return to work program are instrumental in helping you control costs if an injury occurs
Continuous improvement — Safety efforts should be reviewed routinely and adjusted when necessary. This includes investigating all injuries to identify causes, and implementing prevention measures.
Celebrating success — Individual employees and teams should be rewarded in order to acknowledge and build upon positive safety achievements
