Page 89 - Occupational Health & Safety, July/August 2019

The Importance of Senior Management Buy-in
One of the most critical aspects of establishing facility safety is keeping senior management continually involved. As the leaders of their companies, executives should be both held accountable for and recognized for being engaged and ensuring workplace safety.
To that end, it is important for companies to designate an ex- ecutive who will work directly with the facility safety team, bridg- ing the gap between corporate and operations. Additionally, all executives should sign off on all safety programs and on the safety readiness of their facilities. In addition to employee safety, senior management should prioritize employee equity and can keep em- ployees engaged in safety by establishing an employee bill of rights.
Awards and Recognition
When companies highlight their safety standards, they will not only attract employees and stand out from their competitors, they also will gain name recognition by winning safety awards.
It’s important to note that promotion should not stop once an award is won. Companies should continue to promote their safety standards and reference the award as further proof of how unique, well-regarded, and effective their standards are. Continual promo- tion is especially important for the simple reason that winning awards helps companies win more awards.
In addition to gaining industry recognition, companies should assess and celebrate their employees, not only to keep mo-
rale high, but also to ensure that employees are being fully uti- lized. Well-performing employees should be promoted and given more responsibility.
Hit the Ground Running Today
Establishing facility safety best practices should be a comprehen- sive, ongoing, and collaborative process, but it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming one. For further information, companies should consult OSHA, which spells out rules and regulations that span across regions and industries. Trade associations also have a wealth of information on their websites and safety blogs.
By investing in hazard signage, creating safety teams, reevalu- ating facility safety, and continually training workers, companies can ensure their manufacturing facilities are world-class in terms of safety. Though it takes time, attention, and work, maintaining a safe facility is a small price to pay to ensure that employees make it home each night.
Michael Hess is the chief operating officer for LEM Products, Inc., a leading global provider of safety identification labels, tags, and signs. Headquartered in Montgomeryville, Pa., LEM Products, Inc. is a women-owned enterprise that helps its clients meet supplier diversity requirements and obtain certain tax incentives. All products manu- facturedbyLEMProducts,Inc.areproudlymadeintheUSA.For more information, visit www.lemproductsinc.com.
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