Every safety program should be unique to the company and individuals who have created the safety program. Some companies’ want a safety program that is very involved and robust. By contrast, some companies want to implement the bare minimum. No matter what your safety tolerance is, there are some fundamental pillars that every safety program should have. As you incorporate these Six Pillars of Safety into your company, you will be building a culture of safety that lets your employees know where your priorities lie. Building a culture of safety may seem daunting at first, but as you find what works for you and your organization, less people will get hurt and your company will save money. Everybody wins.  As you begin to build your safety program, consider the Six Pillars of Safety and how you will apply them to your organization.

 

 

Six Pillars of Safety

  1. Policy and Procedures
  2. Leadership and Employee Involvement
  3. Training
  4. Hazard Identification and control
  5. Incident Management
  6. Measure, Evaluate, Improve

 

 

How do I apply these in my organization?

  1. Start with safety policies and procedures, otherwise known as safety programs. Identify the hazards your company faces and decide which hazards are the most frequent or most risky. Once you have identified the biggest hazards, create a policy outlining how your company is going to control each of those hazards.
  2. Get leadership and employees involvement. One of the best ways to get leaders involved is to show them how a safety program is going to save the company money. Employees get involved through incentives, discipline, and by making safety programs and training easy to follow.
  3. Train your employees. Most employees want to follow the rules, if they know what the rules are and how to follow them. Make trainings enjoyable for employees in addition to being compliant with OSHA. Don’t forget to ensure that your training is giving your employees some real-world tools they can use in their jobs to work safely.
  4. Start inspections. Once your programs have been created and the employees have been trained, begin site inspections. Walk around the shop, jobsites, or the warehouse and look for unsafe conditions and unsafe acts. If you see a safety problem, find a solution.
  5. Learn to manage incidents properly. This will help to reduce claims costs should an incident occur. First, ensure the employee is ok, determine the care needed, notify leaders of the injury, file the claim, investigate the incident and then follow up. Managing a claim after the employee has been hurt is just as important as what you do before a claim happens.
  6. Keep an eye on your safety data. Measure and evaluate your safety performance. You can use this information that you track to make continuous improvements to your program. It will also help you demonstrate the value of safety to leadership and employees.

By focusing on these Six Pillars of Safety, you will begin to see changes in your employees and your company. If you would like further information about any of the Six Pillars of Safety, please contact us.