What is your safety culture? 

From the desk of Don Dugger

All companies have or should have safety programs with training, videos and tests to help associates work safely. This provides a good baseline to identify hazards, address required regulations and call attention to plant-specific issues. But what is the safety culture in your facility?

In a meeting with perspective job applicants, I ask them, “Can you tell me about any accidents that you have seen or have been aware of in a previous job?” Without fail, the group recalls examples of small to fatal accidents. Following up, I ask if they went through the required safety training, and the reply is yes, the safety training was good, but often — or in some specific instances — it was not followed.

With real-life examples of accidents and feedback that safety training alone did not prevent the accident, I dive a bit deeper in the discussion.

“Who is responsible for safety?” 

Posing this question to the group, there were a variety of opinions on who should be the responsible party, such as management, supervisors, safety staff, or even the equipment manufacturer. When asked if they thought there would be an accident in their old workplace, it brings out a strong affirmative response for reasons such as people taking shortcuts to safety protocols, driving too fast, or simply not following the rules. These individuals had seen it and knew an accident would happen one day.

Another critical question is this: “What if your loved one was injured in a workplace, and the ‘word on the street’ was that they knew someone was going to get hurt because of associates were not working safely?” A family member could ask, “How could this have been allowed to happen?”

If all are trained how to work safely, and there is knowledge that some not are not following safety protocols, why are they allowed to continue to work and put others at risk?

Speaking to the group, I make it clear that safety is everyone’s responsibility. This draws frowns from some because they know where the discussion is going. The root cause of the frowns is fear of peer pressure or retaliation when reporting unsafe acts or the coworkers engaging in them. But the bottom line is if your loved one was injured, you would expect that someone should have done something. And that someone means anybody working at the jobsite.

There is no one who will come riding in to the workplace on a white horse who will protect the workers. The playbook of safety rules works when everyone on the team follows the protocols. When a worker has a dangerous work habit, the team should react to protect themselves and others.

Defining culture

Safety culture is not about the company, the rules, regulations, or even costs. Safety culture is about the individual associate. He or she deserves to have a safe workplace, go home the way they came to work — with all their body parts intact.

Showing a video, taking a test and checking the box will not develop a strong safety culture. Take that extra step; make safety truly an open forum that each associate recognizes is for them. 

Will it pay off? I worked at a mulch and soil plant that has gone 30 years without a lost time accident. The answer is yes, it pays off when in 30 years no one has had to tell a loved one that their family member was injured at work. It is not about the safety record or the cost savings, but rather, it is all about the associates who enjoy a safe workplace. This comes back to employers in the forms of happy employees, retention, recruitment and overall good workplace morale — all things that can’t be accomplished through simple safety programs. 

What is your safety culture? Our associates are our most valuable asset. Do some extra audits; ask your team if the workplace is safe. Attracting and retaining good associates will be easier when your safety culture is solid.