A Strategy for an Effective Accident Prevention Program The Road to Zero: A Strategy for an Effective Accident Prevention Program

Guiding Principles Prevention starts at the top Commitment at all levels Individual empowerment * A significant portion of this presentation is based on the Bethlehem Steel safety manual. Accident prevention must start at the top of the organization, requires teamwork and participation of all employees. Accident prevention requires the commitment and best efforts of all levels; from the top official to the front-line employee. Every individual must be empowered to act in the best interest of safety.

Requirements for an Organized Accident Prevention Process Establish goals and policies Provide means to achieve goals Establish and communicate responsibilities Develop knowledge and skill requirements Create favorable safety motivation Provide accountability Establish written goals and policies -Goal: Achieve zero injuries -Policy: Safety must be an integral part of all activities and must not be compromised. Provide necessary means to achieve goals -Resources -Time -Empowerment Establish and communicate written responsibilities for each level -All safety responsibilities and use of accident prevention tools must be covered -Many are applicable on multiple levels Develop required knowledge and skills -Train every level in how to carry out their safety responsibilities and use of accident prevention tools Develop favorable safety motivation -Develop at all levels through training, reasoning, incentives and most important personal example Provide accountability

Accident Prevention Tools Risk analysis Rules and procedures Training Observations Inspections Accident investigation Risk analysis Safety rules and procedures, including compliance with the law Safety training Safety observations Safety inspections Accident Investigation

Risk Analysis Identify hazards and potential accidents Develop preventive measures Start with high risks Develop a Risk Analysis Use Risk Analysis as training guide Identify hazards and potential accidents Develop preventive measures for each identified hazard or potential accidents -Start with high risk facilities, processes and jobs -Accident frequency data -Potential severity Methods for developing a Risk Analysis -Analyze prior accidents -On-site observation -Group discussion Use Risk Analysis as training guides -Initial and pre-job safety training -Planned safety contacts -Planned safety observations

Safety Training Know hazards and safety procedures New employee orientation Pre-job safety instructions Planned safety contacts Everyone must know the hazards and safety procedures of their job -Laws are created to address safety and health hazards. -Compliance with the law is integrally tied to safety and health progress in an organization. New employee orientation -Company policy on accident prevention -Employee’s responsibilities for working safely -General hazards -General safety rules Pre-job safety instructions -Job specific hazards -Critical safety rules/ procedures -Potential accidents -Likely unsafe practices -Required protective equipment Planned safety contacts -Continuing education -Increase awareness -Correct unsafe practices

Planned Safety Observations Correct unsafe practices Conduct systematic and regular observations Jobs and employees that require increased observations Benefits of planned observations Observed unsafe practices must be corrected on the spot Systematic and regular observations assure that unsafe practices will be spotted. -All levels of supervisors should make observations Jobs and employees requiring increased safety observations -Inexperienced employee -Accident repeater Jobs requiring increased safety observations -Jobs with a history of repeated accidents -Jobs with greatest potential for serious injury Benefits of planned safety observations -Check effectiveness of training - Permit on-the-spot correction -Provide opportunities to compliment

Planned Safety Inspections Correct unsafe condition on the spot Conduct systematic and regular inspections Develop safety inspection analyses Use safety inspection checklists Observed unsafe conditions must be corrected on the spot Systematic and regular inspections assure that unsafe conditions will be spotted -All levels make inspections on varying frequency Develop safety inspection analyses -Define what items and parts to inspect -Define what conditions to look for -Define how often to inspection for each level Advantages of using safety inspections checklist -Less likely items will be overlooked -Provides a basis for reporting inspection findings -Saves writing detailed inspection reports -Means to monitor and follow up corrective actions -Tool to educate employees

Accident Investigation, Reporting, and Follow-Up Establish actions to prevent recurrence Report all accidents, including near misses Analyze causes and recommend actions Control planned corrective actions Conduct accident data analysis Investigation reports determine what happened, how it happened, why it happened, and what must be done to prevent it from happening again. Primary purpose is to establish actions to prevent recurrence. Investigation report for all accidents including near misses Analyze all causes and make recommendations to prevent each cause Control of planned corrective actions Conduct accident data analysis

Motivating Employees to Work Safely Lead by example Develop a foundation for cooperation Increase incentives and decrease disincentives Lead by setting the right example. - Actions speak louder than words and demonstrate that you care Develop a foundation for cooperation. -Empower all employees -Delegate ownership to every level Increase incentives and decrease disincentives for working safely. -Handle safety problem employees with skill -Establish written policies -Must be consistent, firm and fair -Educate employees so they know what to expect

Evaluating Safety Performance Data analysis and statistics Accident prevention tools Internal audits Use accident data analysis and statistics to measure effectiveness Evaluate accident-prevention tool use as part of accident investigations Evaluate accident prevention effectiveness by internal audits

Managing an Effective Accident Prevention Process Get involved and lead by example Promote accident prevention tools and objectives Clearly communicate responsibilities Have a written plan Make time to use accident prevention tools effectively Get involved and set positive example Make sure everyone understands all Accident Prevention tools, and their objectives Clearly communicate all individual responsibilities Make a written annual plan for use of each accident prevention tool, target problem areas and evaluate their application Arrange time for use accident prevention tools effectively