Page 116 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2017

FACILITY SAFETY
Making Safety Part of a Company’s DNA
A comprehensive safety analysis should not be limited to the facility. It should also include a review of all tasks and processes, giving priority to high-risk areas. BY ADAM CROSKEY
In 2016, JLG’s Shippensburg and Bedford, Pa., facilities achieved VPP STAR Site certification, the highest VPP certification level awarded by OSHA. Here, JLG employees celebrate at aWceremony attended by Oshkosh and JLG executives, OSHA representatives, and local dignitaries.
ritten safety policies do not ensure decisions throughout the day, including corrective ac- a culture of safety at a company. Al- tion when a hazard is identified. Their first priority is though putting a foundation of safety safety. The decision to make safety a priority must be policies and best practices in writing is fully supported, encouraged, and rewarded by manag-
essential to a successful safety management system, a collection of policies alone cannot create an envi- ronment where employees feel safe and instinctively make safe choices.
Creating a culture of safety takes time and begins with real commitment from all levels of manage- ment—not just a Safety First sign as you enter the building or verbal commitment to safety by the CEO or facility manager, but an active commitment that leadership demonstrates every day in the decisions they make and the actions they take. Frontline super- visors set the tone because they have to make quick
ers and executives to consistently reinforce that mak- ing safe decisions is most important among all levels of leadership. Taking action to correct unsafe condi- tions or using a positive approach to coaching team members on safe behavior deepens the internal com- mitment to following safe-work practices.
Fostering a culture of safety also requires a facil- ity that is clean, organized, and well maintained. It is difficult to expect employees to commit to safe-work practices if the facility in which they work is dirty, un- organized, and in disrepair. On the contrary, employ- ees are much more likely to feel their company values
104 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2017
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