It' s not only large firms like Baxter that value employee contributions. Wayne Tamarelli, chairman and CEO of Dock Resins Corporation in Linden, N.J., says his safety goals are more people-oriented than financial. People who are motivated and feel the company is looking out for them are good employees. Tamarelli says his company's workers' compensation premiums are low, and no more a concern now than five years ago. Compliance is the third reason for supporting safety efforts, he says, following employee relations and financial benefits.
Finances are certainly on the mind of every executive.
We focus upstream on training and setting clear expectations. Several other executives say that financial rewards, while certainly appreciated, are a spin-off of safety efforts, not the prime target. OSHA isn't the force it once was, but executives interviewed for this article make it clear that they haven't forgotten about federal rules and regulations. Many say they are the starting point for their safety and health programs. They're subject to the whim of legislators, swaying public priorities, and financial cycles.