The major safety effort was the development of a Safe Behavior Team to train all employees to observe work activities and make safety recommendations. The company has not had a lost time injury since March 1994. This company's proactive approach was to hire two safety positions and put the emphasis on education. The president of the company encourages hiring individuals with teaching backgrounds for these key safety positions. Employees now view the safety department as a resource and safety service rather than an enforcement tool.
Weekly surveillance rounds form the cornerstone of their proactive safety program.
A safety issue database is maintained to identify safety concerns and provides a reference for the safety committee. Rather than use an incentive program, safety is regarded as an employee benefit. The innovative answer was The Industrial Athlete program which established a customized program of stretches and exercises for employees to complete before beginning work. Each physical worker has access to a personal trainer to improve body strength and flexibility to uncover and prevent injuries before they occur. If you work with worker's compensation claims for your company, be sure to check out our training page.