June is traditionally recognized as National Safety Month for our business. It’s a great time to continue to raise awareness, discuss current trends in safety, and refocus our efforts.
But what changes on July 1 or August 1? The correct answer should be…nothing. Every company, every industrial site, every construction project all share the same goal. No incidents and 100% workforce safety. So, now that National Safety Month is over, what are you and your organization doing differently? Here are a few suggestions we’ve gotten from our clients:
1. Focus on something new each month
The time of year can help shift your team’s focus on safety. July in Texas is HOT! So, hydration and heat awareness might be an excellent area of safety focus. August is also HOT, and both months fall in the middle of hurricane season. Has your site considered things like accounting for the “ride out” team or how to ensure effective accountability if the power goes out? Regardless, by focusing on a new safety topic each month, your site is more likely to remain engaged in the process of improving safety.
2. What’s happening at your place of work?
If you have a turnaround or construction underway, then contractor safety may be especially important. How does your organization measure contractor safety?
Can your site account for EVERY contractor working in the shutdown areas and, if necessary, account for them in an emergency? Believe it or not, even when focused on safety, there are some compelling productivity improvements available as well.
3. Friendly competition
Can your site or sites find a contest to both reinforce safety as a core value and affect real change? inFRONT has one customer that gives an annual award to the site that presents the most effective and innovative safety solution. Each site presents its entry, the top five are chosen, and the winner is celebrated throughout the company. The winning solution is celebrated, announced to the shareholders and the general public, and adopted company-wide as a best practice. What a great way to build safety and success in the culture!
4. Safety Day
A couple of summers ago, inFRONT and a few other key service providers, were invited to participate in Safety Day with a client. It was held on a Saturday at a local park. There were games for the kids and adults, food on the grill, door prizes, and a few fun demonstrations of the safety culture on site. It built rapport and made the subject of safety a “fun focus.” We would certainly suggest a similar event to any site trying to improve the safety culture on site.
5. Plan for the future
Depending on your company’s financial calendar, it may be time to start thinking about next year’s budget for safety and readiness. Were there specific gaps identified in the last year? Has your team prioritized the top 3 or 5?
None of these suggestions are revolutionary, but safety is a continuous improvement process. By refocusing regularly, maintaining awareness of site activity, and creating some fun in the process, the upward trend of safety and readiness can help ensure that everyone goes home safely.
