You have been tasked with a simple, straightforward project: increase workplace safety. Easy, right? Your first step might be planning and implementing a safety incentive program that will help the company reach this goal, but where do you start? We have compiled five simple steps to help you set up a safety program and increase overall safety in the workplace.
1. Set up your safety program goals.
It is very simple to set up a safety program and have one goal: no OSHA recordable incidents. However, if you are looking to increase your workplace safety, you will have to reward behaviors that help foster a safety focused culture. Including goals like reporting a near miss, recommending preventative measures and corrective actions, completing training, attending safety meetings, and similar activities, are more likely to increase safe behavior and thus have a reduced number of recordable incidents.
2. Plan for spontaneous safety recognition.
Although you may have various ways for people to participate and earn points in a safety incentive program, giving people recognition on the spot is a great way to reward workers for a wide variety of reasons. Recognizing and rewarding workers who demonstrate safe behavior or go above and beyond the job description can be given instant point cards by management. The points can be banked or spent just like any other points received in the safety incentive program. On-the-spot recognition cards are fun surprises for employees and increase the likelihood of daily safe practices.
3. Develop a safety incentive program budget.
Depending on the number of goals and participants in your program, you will have to decide how many dollars to assign to each goal. Typically, most clients budget between $5 and $25 per goal met, and $1- 10 for instant point cards. For most safety incentive programs, all of your budget will be going towards the points that people use to purchase rewards. If you are just starting a program, be aware of any setup or ongoing administrative fees that your award program provider may charge, and be sure to include this in your budget projection.
4. Design the safety incentive program website.
While your award program provider should assist with the setup of your safety incentive program website, involving your marketing team will help ensure your exact branding and messaging are followed. Websites can include additional safety resources, too, such as safety newsletters, discussion notes and hand-outs, safety quizzes, and safety feedback forms. If you only have a short time to set up the program, don’t worry about adding all of these pages at first. You can always add new safety program resources online and invite employees to check out the website later on.
5. Create communication for the program.
Knowing your audience is vital when setting up your safety incentive program communications. If your employees have regular access to the internet and work or home email, then start with electronic communications, such as newsletters and emails. If your employees are more analog or away from computers a majority of the time, then printed options like posters, flyers, printed statements, and safety account cards might be the better route. However you choose to communicate, the most important thing is to keep your branding, messaging, and voice in mind. Having one cohesive look and tone will make it more recognizable to employees and increase the chances of their engagement.
Creating your own safety incentive program is more accessible than you think! Following these five steps and partnering with an experienced safety program provider will effectively encourage safe behavior and help create a safer workplace!