As I mentioned earlier in this article, the more serious an accident is, the more likely it is that it was preceded by a far less serious incident. Every fatal workplace accident could be preceded by 10,000 unsafe behaviors or hazards.
A word of caution: Don’t interpret this logic to mean that employees are to blame for all serious incidents. In fact, the outsized frequency of near misses, unsafe behavior, and hazards in many organizations suggests a stronger culture of safety is needed—something that falls under the purview of dedicated safety professionals.
It’s also worth noting that most organizations only document the most serious incidents. This means they lack insight into less serious incidents that they could easily prevent. And a lack of prevention can have dangerous knock-on effects.
How can companies reduce these bottom-of-the-pyramid incidents and strengthen their security culture? In the rest of this article, I’ll share four steps that can help.
Step 1: Conduct a security audit
Many organizations focus primarily on lagging indicators (i.e. data collected after an incident). While these are often important for regulatory compliance and historical security analysis, lagging indicators alone do not provide a complete picture of security vulnerabilities. They only explain what went wrong – not what could go wrong in the future.
A safety audit allows you to review your safety data collection methods to provide a more solid foundation for analysis and prevention. This means tracking leading indicators on your jobsite, such as unsafe behavior, common hazards and near misses. If someone almost slips on an unmarked wet spot, it could indicate the potential for a actually subsequent fall, which could lead to injuries.
Step 2: Implement reporting software
Once you know what data you want to collect going forward, equip your employees with comprehensive software that enables real-time reporting and analysis. My recommendation? Use mobile, cloud-based software so employees can report incidents immediately. That way, they don’t have to wait until they’re at a computer to fill out a form.
As a best practice, encourage employees to all types of incidents so you can understand the complete security status in your organization.
Behind the scenes, cloud connectivity ensures that no alerts are lost. Additionally, the right tool will have analytics dashboards that help you identify patterns and trends. This allows you to proactively address potential hazards before they become serious incidents. For example, if employees are frequently slipping or tripping in a particular area of a warehouse, this could be an indication that better signage that says “Wet floor” or “Be careful where you step” is needed.
Step 3: Involve the entire organization
A successful safety culture requires buy-in from both leaders and front-line employees. With commitment at all levels, safety can become a core value for your organization.
A good place to start is with a solid safety training program, but the challenge is to make each lesson both accessible and engaging. If employees don’t understand your safety protocols, they’re at risk of injury or worse.
Mobile safety training programs are a great way to reach employees where they are. These programs allow employees to access training materials anytime, anywhere. And with bite-sized, easily digestible modules, employees can complete training at their own pace. This approach allows for continuous learning while keeping safety top of mind.
Leaders like supervisors and foremen can also have an influence. The key is to make sure they practice good safety habits every day. These people are often role models for younger employees. They can encourage their direct reports to follow safety protocols while protecting each other.
If an incident does If an issue arises, make sure employees know how to fill out a report in the app—and be transparent about what to expect afterward. Keep them updated on progress with digital notifications, and make sure they know who to contact for more information. The more transparent you are, the more employees will trust the company culture you’ve built.
Step 4: Monitor and adjust
As you implement the steps above, be sure to continually monitor your company’s safety performance. EHS software can be a valuable aid here, allowing you to track safety progress in real time, from training module completion rates to safety actions.
From here, you can approach your safety program iteratively. Consider making incremental changes to your training schedule, data collection processes, etc. as needed. This will allow you to gradually develop a safety culture that is proactively responsive to the needs of your organization.
Preventive strategies have enormous impact
The safety pyramid has been around for decades, but it is still very valuable today. The key to putting theory into practice is a multi-pronged strategy to address incidents at the base of the pyramid before they become avalanches.
The steps outlined here will help companies do just that. By addressing serious security issues at their root, companies can better protect their employees and manage overall risk.
