IS YOUR WORKPLACE SAFE AND SOUND?
Safe + Sound is a year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have a safety and health program.
| PART TWO |
Worker Participation
What is Worker Participation? Worker participation is engaging workers at all levels in establishing, implementing, evaluating, and improving safety and health in the workplace so that workers understand they are a valuable partner in making their workplace safer and are encouraged to communicate with management about hazards on the job.
Effective safety and health programs tap into workers’ collective experience, knowledge, and insight in order to find solutions to workplace safety and health challenges.
Why Is It Important?
Workers often know the most about potential hazards associated with their jobs. When they are involved in finding solutions, they feel invested in the program. To maximize participation, however, workers must feel free of any fear of retaliation or discrimination (e.g., for reporting an injury or hazardous conditions).
Workers can participate in many ways, including:
- Developing the initial program design.
- Reporting incidents (including near misses) so they can be investigated.
- Analyzing hazards associated with routine and nonroutine jobs, tasks, and processes.
- Defining and documenting safe work practices.
- Conducting site inspections and incident investigations.
- Training current coworkers and new hires.
- Evaluating program performance and identifying ways to improve it.
What Can You Do?
Listen and Ask for Feedback
- Build trust
- Host listening and discussion sessions
- Establish ways for workers to give anonymous feedback
Empower Workers with Safety and Health Information
- Train workers on every shift
- Create safety and health-related material
Recognize Workers for Contributions to Workplace Safety
- Reward safe workers
- Have lunch with the boss
See more at:
Be Safe + Sound at Work: Worker Participation (osha.gov)
What Can You Do Next?
• Use the National Safety Council’s Speaking of safety | June 2017 | Safety+Health (safetyandhealthmagazine.com) and https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/SHP_Better-Safety-Conversations.pdf to change the way you have safety conversations with your workers.
• Develop an anti-retaliation program using OSHA’s recommended practices Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs (osha.gov)
Spencer-SHE has been providing Safety, Health, and Environmental Compliance Guidance and training since 1980, offering clients cost-effective, turn-key solutions. We take a hands-on approach to services and training. We get to know our clients and customize our services accordingly.
Contact us here and let Spencer-SHE help optimize your workplace safety culture.
Source:
Develop your program | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)