A Recipe For Safety ... And How To Prepare It By Carmen Daecher

Everybody talks about safety. We all believe in it; we support it; we practice it. But just what is this thing called safety?

From where I'm sitting, I'll tell you what safety is not. Safety is not luck. Safety is not the laws of probability. Safety is not regulatory compliance.

Safety is a mind set; it is a behavior; it is a way of life.

For those who believe in luck, they would have you believe that some people have it and some don't. And there is no changing that. So, you get what you hire. Therefore, safety in your organization rests with the hiring decision.

For those who believe in the laws of probability, sooner or later, for whatever reason, an accident is bound to happen. There might be some truth to this belief from a statistical point of view, but there is no statistical corollary to understand how much higher or lower probabilities may be because of safety programs, and other safety activities. And this belief still has an underlying current that all of the efforts in the world cannot overcome fate.

For those who believe that safety is strictly regulatory compliance, well, there is ample statistical data to prove that this is just plain wrong.

Safety is a part of the fabric within the organization. Every member of the organization must live it and breathe it. It is a behavior. And members of the organization must support each other in acting safely.

You might think of safety as the sauce of the organization. It gives it flavor, character and distinction. For those who believe in luck and probability, you can expect the sauce to be bland. But for those organizations that subscribe to safety being a way of life, then you are sure to experience a sauce that is robust.

To make safety a real and vibrant part of the organization, from where I'm sitting, certain qualities for each individual within the organization must be present. You might call these ingredients. They are:

Knowledge
Preparation
Skill
Vigilance
Motivation
Communication

Knowledge is the foundation for safe behavior. It not only means understanding what your job is, but also understanding how you should do it; what materials and equipment you must use to accomplish your task; what precautions you should take; and what rules and regulations you must apply. Knowledge is understanding with whom you must work, and how you relate to them in performing your tasks and for them to perform theirs. It is understanding changing environmental conditions which effect you and your tasks. And knowledge is an ability to continually assess yourself and your performance from a physiological and work product point of view.

Skill is proficiency at performing your tasks. "Know how". Knowledge is the foundation for it, but practice and achieved results is what defines it. Skill is a demonstrated proficiency in performing your task consistently well. It is a demonstration that you not only have knowledge, but that you also know how to use equipment and produce desired results under various conditions and circumstances.

Preparation is a preamble to performance. It is making sure that you have all of the tools and personal equipment necessary to safely and efficiently perform your task. Preparation is determining the effects and impacts that variables and changing conditions will have upon performance before beginning your task. It is making sure that you are physically and mentally ready to perform your task.

We as human beings have a tendency towards complacency. With all the knowledge, skill, and preparation in the world, complacency is a constant threat to safety. Thus, vigilance is a critical ingredient for safe operations within the workplace. Vigilance is the constant refocus on our tasks. Vigilance is a continuous process of awareness about what we are doing and how we are doing it. There are many enemies to vigilance. Complacency, fatigue, inattention, diversion are a few of them.

Each one of us must feel good about what we do if we are to do it well. Each of us have a desire to be a member and a contributor to the achievement of goals for our team or organization. We must want to do well if we are going to do well consistently. Motivation is an important ingredient in the recipe of safety. It drives the ability to be vigilant. Motivation significantly and directly influences preparation and vigilance. And it inspires us to apply our knowledge and skills well.

Communication is the "spice" of the recipe. Used properly it will strengthen and enhance all other ingredients. Communication is the "everyday" ingredient for effective safety behavior.

These are the ingredients that define the strength and durability of safety within your organization. How do you integrate or "prepare" them? Here are my suggestions:

Define and document policies and procedures for the safe performance of tasks related to jobs within your organization. This will show to each employee an interest on the part of the organization for their well-being. It will also define the knowledge and skills that will be essential for safe operations by each employee.
Provide regular training for all employees. Training is the basis from which to provide knowledge and skill and preparation. Employees will again believe that you have an interest in their well-being and performance. And training is a basic means of communication which is so vital in any organization.
Communicate regularly with all employees. Communicate on a daily basis about changing conditions and situations which will effect their jobs and their performance. And communicate regularly with them about organizational objectives and the achievement of these objectives. Remember that communication updates knowledge and is a regular way to remind each employee that they are a very real part of the organization.
Provide positive feed back to your employees. Congratulate them for a job well done. Encourage them to do better and to help improve ways that the organization does things. Always listen to their advice and to their complaints. And always respond in a timely manner. This is how respect is built within the organization. And this is how motivation and vigilance are energized within each employee.
Provide recognition for excellent safety performance. Initiate a safety incentive program, an awards dinner, lapel pins, etc, as rewards for consistently high safety performance. These are outstanding ways to say thank you and to maintain motivation among employees.

As with any recipe, you may think of other ingredients to add to make it even more effective. And if you think you have a better recipe, please share it with us. In the meantime, the basic recipe discussed here should help the organization effectively manage safety by making it an everyday way of life that is pleasing and enjoyable for everyone who can be a part of it.

And, Finally, Happy Holiday to all of our Transportation Practice Specialty members!

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