Staying 'Safe + Sound' with safety management software

Every year in the US, more than 5,000 workers are killed at work and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness, according to the Bureau of Labor (BLS). 

Although the rate of worker deaths and reported injuries has decreased by more than 60 percent since the launch of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act in 1970, these are still shocking numbers – and show that safety management has a long way to go.

In a bid to make US employers aware of their responsibilities and to celebrate best practice in safety management, OSHA launches its national ‘Safe + Sound’ program on Monday August 13.

The program aims to encourage organizations to take a proactive approach to safety by developing a culture of safety among employees and encouraging individuals to take responsibility for safety by implementing a reporting system.

Steffan Kilmer, SHE Software’s Head of US Sales, said the campaign was a useful tool in encouraging employers to make safety a priority: “While there are many examples of really good safety initiatives in the US, the BLS statistics show that businesses need to be aware of what their responsibilities are and how to put them into action.

“OSHA recommends that a simple, intuitive reporting system is at the heart of a good safety program. That’s something we at SHE Software emphasize as a key component when it comes to encouraging employee engagement and improving safety performance.”

More than 200 organizations are partnering with OSHA to promote the importance of safety and health programs – one of the most effective ways to reduce injuries and illnesses and improve business performance. Successful programs can increase worker satisfaction, improve productivity, and reduce costs associated with workplace injuries.

Tips for Staying 'Safe and Sound'

We’ve compiled the essential components for success when developing a safety program – crucial reading whether you’re getting your program started, or energizing an existing one:

1. Every worker has the right to go home safely. Safety needs to be a core value – make sure your employees value not only their own safety, but also that of their colleagues.

2. A commitment to safety needs to come from the top down – leadership teams and management should demonstrate safe behaviors at all times and participate in actively talking safety with workers.

3. Make sure workers are trained in how to recognize workplace hazards and how to report them to prevent incidents happening.

4. Put a simple, straightforward reporting system in place that allows all employees to note any issues, whether they’re hazards, near-misses, or simply causing concern.

5. Engage employees by involving them in inspections and asking for ‘real life’ opinions or concerns on activities, materials or equipment – this encourages workers to own safety and view it as part of their everyday role.

6. Crowdsource hazard control ideas – the best way to reduce accidents is to stop them happening in the first place, so ask workers for ideas on improvements and follow up on their suggestions. 

7. Put safety in the hands of the people it will affect – assign workers the task of choosing, implementing, and evaluating the solutions they come up with.

8. Anticipate, then mitigate – make sure everybody knows what to do in the event of an accident or emergency and meet regularly to review processes and procedures. 

9. If significant changes are likely to happen – for example, changes to a working environment or equipment or materials – consult workers to identify any potential issues.

10. Keep talking safety – set regular time aside to discuss issues and identify ways your safety program can be improved.

For more information about how Evotix can help your business stay 'Safe and Sound', request a demo today!