| This article relates to the Safety and Working | | | | survey was finished, a memo was circulated to |
| Environment competency and explores how your | | | | remind employees that their reports of any |
| employees feel with regard to their physical and | | | | safety concern at any time were most welcome |
| environmental working conditions, the quality of | | | | and appreciated.Using the feedback gained from |
| their equipment and tools, and overall attention to | | | | the employee survey, I determined which basic |
| safety within the workplace. Every organization is | | | | safety training areas needed to be revisited. |
| responsible for ensuring the health and safety of | | | | Some of the newer employees had not yet |
| their employees. An unsafe working environment | | | | completed the mandatory training, and the long |
| can lead to accidents, lawsuits, and missed work. | | | | term workers had done it so long ago that they |
| Such incidents can result in significant costs to | | | | would surely benefit from a review. So we set up |
| your organization. The questions included in this | | | | a schedule and everyone underwent job specific |
| competency will investigate whether your staff is | | | | safety courses.Finally, the employee survey |
| satisfied with the organization's facilities, whether | | | | indicated that an employee safety incentive |
| they believe business is being conducted in a safe | | | | program might go a long way toward preventing |
| manner, and if the tools and equipment provided | | | | future occurrences. I considered the cost versus |
| are adequate to successfully and safely complete | | | | the benefits, and decided that the idea was worth |
| their jobs.This article, Improving Workplace | | | | a try. We began with a monthly incentive |
| Safety, is part of AlphaMeasure's compilation, | | | | program that awarded a small merchandise prize |
| Tales From the Corporate Frontlines. It tells how | | | | or a gift certificate for a local business. Then we |
| a company, shaken by a workplace accident, | | | | added a prize for workers that were |
| made a concerted effort to improve workplace | | | | accident-free for a specific period of time. Some |
| safety conditions and enjoyed multiple benefits as | | | | employees felt that we needed to post |
| a result.Anonymous SubmissionImproving | | | | reminders, and they created posters. After a |
| Workplace SafetyFor a small business owner like | | | | while there was a contest for the most creative |
| me, creating an accident-free workplace is a huge | | | | idea and best artistically rendered safety poster. |
| undertaking. Recently, I discovered just how | | | | There were also periodic pop quizzes on safety |
| important an undertaking it was. Insurance is | | | | procedures with prize rewards.The total company |
| expensive enough these days, and I had been | | | | process of improving our workplace safety |
| trying to do everything possible to keep | | | | resulted in more than just fewer injuries. The |
| premiums down. I have a limited number of | | | | effort produced a team spirit, employees enjoyed |
| employees, so it's crucial to maintain a high level | | | | a safer environment, and morale received a |
| of productivity. At the end of every month, I | | | | boost. Add in greater productivity and savings on |
| would breathe a sigh of relief when we avoided | | | | insurance premiums, and both company and |
| unnecessary accidents and the resulting down | | | | employees were big winners.© 2005 |
| time.Then, two years ago, one of our employees | | | | AlphaMeasure, Inc. - All Rights ReservedThis |
| was involved in a serious accident. She was | | | | article may be reprinted, provided it is published in |
| hospitalized for weeks and the line she worked on | | | | its entirety, includes the author bio information, |
| was closed for inspection by insurance adjustors | | | | and all links remain active.Measure. Report. |
| and further inspection and repair. At that time, I | | | | Improve your organization with AlphaMeasure |
| decided that an in depth review of our company | | | | employee surveys.Josh Greenberg is President of |
| safety procedures was in order.The first thing I | | | | AlphaMeasure, Inc.AlphaMeasure provides |
| did was to complete an employee survey. This | | | | organizations of all sizes a powerful web based |
| helped in several respects: employees gave | | | | method for measuring employee satisfaction, |
| feedback about the work environment and | | | | determining employee engagement, and increasing |
| pointed out areas where safety concerns existed, | | | | employee retention.Launch your employee |
| and it gave them a useful way to help make sure | | | | surveys with AlphaMeasure. |
| that a similar accident would not happen. Once the | | | | |