February 10, 2010

Generally, there are two approaches to safety — reactive and proactive:

The reactive approach: An injury happens. You investigate it, often with the main focus of the investigation being to determine whether the employee violated your safety rules.

Based on the investigation, recommendations are made about possible disciplinary action and hazard correction, and then corrective actions are taken.

In the reactive mode, you are taking the "accidents happen" stance. Most of your safety effort is expended in reacting to incidents after they occur, and you attempt to prevent future accidents primarily by investigating previous accidents. Because an injury occurs before safety action is initiated, this tends to be a costly way to go about things.

Improving your safety culture can save you money and bolster employee morale. Join us on February 26 for an informative webinar that will help you understand and implement the right tools to prevent accidents in the work place.

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The proactive approach: You spend most of your time and energy in safety actions that anticipate injuries and illnesses before they happen.

Hazards that may potentially cause injuries are identified; the hazards are analyzed to determine risk and whether controls (engineering controls, management controls, etc.) can be used to mitigate employee exposure; information from the analysis is used to develop recommendations; and recommendations for corrective actions and system improvements are implemented — all prior to an injury or illness occurring.

Using a proactive approach shows that you view safety incidents as something that can be prevented, as opposed to something that just happens. Because a proactive safety approach initiates safety action prior to an injury or illness occurring, it costs less than a reactive approach.

Some key characteristics found in proactive safety programs include:

• Hazard identification. This includes periodic safety inspections — with a system of correcting hazards that are identified during inspection.
• Behavioral observation and correction. Regular and consistent observation and correction of employees' unsafe behaviors (using not only disciplinary action but also coaching and training to correct behaviors) are important in preventing accidents in the workplace.
• Incentive and recognition. Behaviors that help to prevent accidents are encouraged, such as participating in the safety process (e.g., serving on inspection or investigation teams or the safety committee), providing safety suggestions, and complying with safety rules.
• Training. Employees are provided with safety and job skills training that ensure they can perform their jobs safely. When performance deficiencies are found, additional training is provided.
• Job hazard analysis. The work that employees do has been analyzed to determine what risks are present, how those risks can be mitigated, and what skills, knowledge, and tools are necessary for an employee to perform the job safely.

Injury and Incident Prevention in California: Good for Employees, Employers, and Your Bottom Line

The prevention of incidents and injuries involving workers and property forms the foundation of a good safety culture. Smart safety practices not only prevent pain, suffering, and lost time, but can also boost your bottom line in the form of increased productivity, decreased turnover, and reduced workers' comp claims.

Because workplace incidents are caused by many factors — human, mechanical, and otherwise — it's important to understand and implement the right tools to prevent them.

Join us on Feb. 26, when our safety expert will provide you with strategies and tips on reducing hazards and eliminating injuries and incidents at your workplace.

You'll learn:

• How costs associated with an injury — direct and indirect — affect your bottom line
• Strategies for conducting and using effective hazard recognition tools
• The difference between reactive and proactive measures, and why both are important
• Steps to ensure effective accountability for safety — from new hires to top management
• Getting value out of your Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and other management systems
• How to get workers on board with creating a culture of safety
• Why worker buy-in is crucial for California employers
• How to integrate safety directly into your operating procedures and production

Register Now »

Learn More »