While it is essential to have a safety program, it’s critical to transform culture from contentment to involvement. Several factors influence the need for manufacturing organisations to incorporate a safety program within their facilities. Regulations are viewed as primary by many individuals with a mindset of contentment. Individuals that exhibit an involvement mindset understand the impact safety has on the well-being of the workforce.

Financial Impact 

A primary factor driving organisations to continue to seek a reduction in injuries is cost. A safety incident incurs a cost of medical care as well as in productivity and the mental health of individuals. Each incident generates a direct financial impact on an organisation. After seeing a colleague’s injury in the workplace, the mental state of employees can last throughout their careers and contribute indirectly to significant cost implications to the organisation.

Consistent From Year to Year

Manufacturing facilities continue to rank #2 behind healthcare facilities for most injuries. Manufacturing leadership continues to be challenged to seek continuous improvement activities to lower and eliminate concerns across their span of control. The dynamic environment of manufacturing generates a moving potential hazard condition.

A unique set of inputs can increase the level of a hazard condition rating. Understanding these inputs and controlling their state is critical to minimise the safety potential level. This continuous hazard condition cycle requires dedicated audit frequency throughout an organisation to prevent injury to the workforce.

Measuring is a critical input requirement for focus improvement efforts. Facilities that isolate responsibility to a couple of individuals view the task as a requirement. Engagements from all levels in the organisation are required to achieve a comprehensive assessment and help drive the elimination of hazards.

Characterisation of Workplace Injuries

Facilities track injury data based on location and specific occupations. Based on data, risk level development (high, medium, low) occurs for location and occupation. Strategic priorities are centered on high-risk and work-down lists. This methodology makes an assumption that all inputs to factors contributing to risk remain consistent. Research has proven that tracking risk activity programs need to incorporate inputs that can contribute to the risk. These inputs can either increase or decrease the potential level of risk, not only tracking risk activity.

Severity of Risk

Hazards are present throughout any facility. An organisation must review all and determine the level of countermeasures required. Determination for actions is based on risk assessment of the hazard. A periodic review of risk levels helps an organisation determine if countermeasures remain sufficient to control the hazard condition.

Safety programs are composed of two pillars: compliance and training. They are interlinked and required for a successful safety program. Every organisation follows a similar process to track and document compliance with governmental and organisation specifics. Training implementation is also handled in a common manner.

Workplace Structure

To manage and control safety injuries, organisations are responsible for abiding by governmental policies and regulations. Governmental standards provide a minimal level of hazard protection for employees. Organisations take localised actions and create additional standards. The local standards supplement governmental regulations with customized standards to support the uniqueness of operations. Localised standards help to align high potential locations or occupations with employee well-being. Additional policies by organisations help solidify the commitment to well-being of the workforce.

Employee Education

Initial and periodic training sessions are held to instruct the employee on standards for compliance. Customisation of training with local equipment-specific procedures and pictures directly influences employees’ perception of the organisation’s commitment. In addition, it helps employees comprehend policies and regulations. Having a consistent awareness of occupational health and safety helps increase the workforce’s involvement in the mitigation of potential hazards.

Leading by example has been discussed at length within publications. The impact is significant on workforce acceptance and adoption of initiatives.

Shifting to Involvement

To shift safety response from reactive to proactive, a transformation must occur within the workforce from contentment to involvement. To drive culture change within the workforce, the safety leadership team must lead by example. Show sincere expression of concern for abnormal hazards and participation in resolution discussion/implementation, and set the expectations high for other individuals in the work zone.

Source: EHS Today