August

Tips for Implementing a Safety Incentive Program

Companies are always looking for creative ways to prevent workplace accidents. One way that employers look to ensure workers stay safe on the job is by implementing an incentive program. Incentive programs often reward employees for safe actions and periods of accident-free workdays.

But do these programs actually work?

This article will take a look at safety incentive programs, pros and cons, share some examples of rewards that can be offered, and tips on how to develop a successful safety incentive program at your organization.

What is a Safety Incentive Program?

A safety incentive program is a reward-based program used to encourage employees to meet or exceed safety goals in the workplace. Safety incentive programs promote worker safety when done correctly. These programs compensate workers with rewards once team members have met specific safety goals.

Safety incentive programs can be in place for a specific project, a certain amount of time, or as an ongoing motivational tool to promote safe work practices on the job. Incentive programs are commonly used in such industries as manufacturing, construction, warehousing, and refineries.

Safety incentive programs in the past have been a somewhat controversial tool when not implemented correctly. There was and still remains concern by many in the safety industry that these programs discourage workers to report workplace injuries and illnesses when incentivizing not having accidents.

A worker may get pressure from coworkers to not report an injury. The last thing a safety manager wants is an injured employee continuing to work. And a minor injury can quickly turn into a more serious issue if it goes untreated.

Tips for Implementing Your Program

Below are some helpful pointers on implementing a successful program in your workplace.

Encourage participation. 

To ensure a successful program, workers must feel that their input is important and welcomed and that their voices are clearly heard. Employers should take into account the language, education, and skill levels of their workers. If workers fear retaliation or discrimination for speaking up, they are not likely to participate in the program.

If an accident investigation focuses on blaming workers rather than finding the underlying conditions that led to the incident, then the program will not be successful. If reporting an incident or concern jeopardizes the award, then employers will not report accidents and incidents.

Ensure there is management support and involvement. 

If management does not 100% support and embrace the safety incentive program and participate in it, neither will employees. Workers must know that the program is fair, that it reasonably is administered, and that they have the opportunity to win the reward.

If that is not the case, the workers will not support or participate in the program. Employees’ trust in the program can best be accomplished by active and strong management involvement.

Form a safety committee. 

Forming a safety committee is a great way to reinforce the importance of safety and to get workers to participate in the safety program. Employers should select workers from all areas of the workforce. The committee should work together to review accident reports, perform workplace inspections, and make improvement recommendations to management.

Do not punish for reporting.

Punishing employees for reporting injuries or unsafe conditions in the workplace means employees are not likely to report them.

Encourage and reward training. Employers should identify where accidents and injuries have occurred in the past and strive to prevent them through training. Focused training will keep safety top-of-mind and will demonstrate that employees know how to avoid these injuries.

Reward reporting and solutions.

Workers should be encouraged to report unsafe conditions, but better yet, they should also provide solutions or fixes to the problem. For example, an employee could report that repairing a valve on a tank is unsafe because it exposes workers to a fall. It would be even better for an employee to not only report the hazard but offer ways that the hazard can be mitigated. For example, using fall protection equipment or constructing a guardrail above the tank.

Offering valuable awards for greater participation in the incentive program, such as gift cards, additional time off, or safety merchandise, demonstrates the value a company places on workers’ knowledge.

Common Safety Incentive Program Pitfalls

When implementing a safety incentive program, think through how you want to set up the program and possible issues that could arise. Below are several common pitfalls that are present in these programs.

Being Reactive (or Just Not Proactive) 

You must ensure that the employees are incentivized to proactively work safe. If the program only rewards not having injuries, the employees are not incentivized to take specific proactive steps to work safely.

Rewarding Not Reporting Incidents

As stated throughout this post, one of the biggest issues with safety incentives programs is rewarding not having accidents or injuries. Naturally, this rewards not reporting whenever possible.

Not Rewarding Frequently Enough

If companies are only doing an end of year safety award, this can discourage employees from actively participating all year to earn the reward. For example, if someone does something to lose their reward for the entire year in January, they are more likely to take risks while working.

Rewarding employees on monthly or quarterly basis with smaller rewards can keep the safety incentive at the top of their mind while also allowing employees to have the chance to earn the reward if they previously lost it earlier in the year.

Tying Rewards to Outcomes Outside the Employees Control

Incentive programs work better if employees can see that their actions are leading to the desired outcome and it is achievable. For example, if a company is tying safety goals into increasing sales numbers, many employees can be discouraged from putting additional effort into working safely since they have no control over the sales numbers for the year.

Summary

Safety incentives can help to build a culture that values safety in an organization. Some accidents will happen, no matter what steps are taken to prevent them, especially in hazardous industries such as construction and manufacturing. Sometimes tools and equipment fail, and people can get injured but implementing a safety incentive program can help empower workers to identify and report unsafe actions and conditions in the workplace.

A safety incentive program can help to create a culture of safety and encourages safe behaviors. The key is to ensure the program fits the goals and objectives of your company and involves your employees.