Sunday, June 19, 2011

Does putting safety first send the wrong message to our organization?

Safety first! Is this an empty, time-worn slogan or a forceful admonition by management that they move forward relentlessly to label their organization, “Best in Safety” or “Best in Class”?
We know the answer. Do you think it is unrealistic that management will day in, day out place safety above all else? I am not saying that management is numb to the contribution and importance of safety but, the fact is management must take an ownership role for safety in your organization and the way to do it is not by belting out a slogan.
Safety must be an integral part of management’s responsibility. In fact, safety should rank right up there on par with other primary objectives of the enterprise such as productivity, quality and cost. 
Think about this.  What would the implications be if management simply managed safety the same way it manages other sustaining priorities such as production, cost or quality? The implications are powerful.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Safety Month!

June is National Safety Month!
 
We are encouraging businesses and communities across the country to participate in National Safety Month this June – an annual observance to increase awareness of the top causes of preventable injuries and deaths and to encourage safe behaviors.

Unintentional injuries and deaths in the United States are at unacceptable levels, demonstrating the need for a national observance such as National Safety Month. Unintentional deaths reached an estimated 128,200 in 2009. The 2009 estimate – the highest on record – is 47% greater than the 1992 total of 86,777 – the lowest annual total since 1924.

The cost of unintentional injuries to Americans and their employers exceeds $693 billion nationally, or $5,900 per household, and causes great suffering among individuals and their families.
For more information and helpful safety suggestions visit; http://www.nsc.org/