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