CHRIS ACORD
Workplace Safety Division
Directorate of Analysis and Prevention
U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center
Fort Novosel, Alabama
From Fiscal Years (FY) 2020-24, an ineffective safety culture was one of the most cited causes of Army on-duty mishaps. Creating a positive safety culture is essential to ensuring the well-being of Soldiers and civilian employees, as well as the overall success of an organization in supporting the Army’s mission. A strong safety culture not only reduces preventable mishaps that result in personnel loss due to injuries or damage to equipment, but also boosts productivity, morale and organizational efficiency.
The National Safety Council reported that in 2022, workplace injuries cost employers an estimated $167 billion with more than 108 million lost workdays, highlighting the financial impact of a poor safety culture. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers who implemented a strong safety and health management system noted a transformed workplace culture, higher productivity, reduced turnover and greater employee satisfaction. Furthermore, organizations with Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status have injury and illness rates 50 percent lower than the average for their industry. Additionally, a study published by the Journal of Safety Research showed that a safety culture intervention improved performance, interaction patterns concerning safety, and injury rates.
Changing a safety culture
Some best practices organizations can use to change or improve their safety culture include:
- Leadership commitment. Leaders must prioritize safety and demonstrate their commitment through actions and regular communication. This sets the tone for the entire organization. • Soldier/employee involvement. Engage Soldiers and civilian employees at all levels in safety initiatives. Encourage them to participate in safety committees, provide feedback on changes in safety procedures and report hazards to their supervisors or via the Army Safety Management Information System 2.0 (ASMIS 2.0).
- Training and education. Provide regular training on safety practices, hazard recognition and emergency procedures. Ensure all employees are aware of safety protocols and understand their importance. In an evaluation of 709 studies on safety training programs, organizations that incorporated “highly engaging” safety program training methods initially experienced an acute increase in expense and time needed to train or retrain personnel. However, the effectiveness of the targeted safety training reduced mishaps, thus reducing long-term costs of workers’ compensation and repair or replacement of damaged equipment.
- Clear communication. Maintain open lines of communication about safety issues. Use multiple channels, such as after-action reviews, safety briefs, newsletters and digital platforms, to disseminate safety information supervisors and their personnel need to effectively perform daily tasks. When employees and Soldiers feel they can share ideas or concerns about a task with supervisors without fear of judgment or reprisal, it paves the way for trust, creativity and mission success. Fostering open communication not only builds better teams, it also transforms your entire organization.
- Continuous improvement. Regularly review and update safety policies and procedures. Conduct audits and inspections of programs and processes to identify the system inadequacies and implement corrective actions.
- Recognition and rewards. Recognize and reward employees for their contributions to hazard reduction. This can include incentives for reporting hazards, participating in safety training and adhering to safety protocols.
Success stories
Many companies and organizations have experienced the positive effects of prioritizing workplace safety. Some examples include:
- Alcoa's transformation. Under the leadership of Paul O'Neill, Alcoa, a global aluminum manufacturer, prioritized safety above all else. This focus led to an 80 percent reduction in lost workdays due to accidents, a significant increase in market value and improved net income.
- Tesla's "Safety First" culture. Tesla places a strong emphasis on workplace safety, resulting in a proactive safety culture that prioritizes employee well-being and reduces accidents.
- DuPont's STOP initiative. DuPont's Safety Training Observation Program (STOP) encourages employees to observe and report unsafe behaviors, leading to a significant reduction in workplace injuries.
- U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC). AMC has implemented a Safety and Occupational Health Management System (ASOHMS) across its enterprise. This system has led to a 20 percent increase in safety managers with a professional certificate in safety and occupational health, as well as a reduction in preventable injuries and illnesses.
Conclusion
Changing the safety culture in the workplace requires a comprehensive approach that involves leadership commitment, employee involvement, continuous training and a focus on constant improvement. By considering these best practices and learning from successful examples, all Army organizations can continue to improve mishap prevention strategies that will help promote a more productive work environment where there is more emphasis on attention to detail, communication, accountability and training.
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