1. SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

2. Safety Program Incentive plans cannot be used alone
They must be only a piece of the safety program
Employees must be properly trained for jobs
They must be trained on how to recognize hazards
They must be trained and have access to a written safety program so they know the company rules

3. Safety Program
Safety policy which outlines the company’s commitment to a safe workplace
Policies stating employees’ responsibilities and accountabilities
Management support for safe practices
Rules for job performance and conduct to help keep the workplace safe
Corrective action plan (training, disciplinary actions, etc.)
Performance appraisal system
Safety committee
Designation of those responsible for safety monitoring

4. Support from Management and Supervisors
Management and supervisors must believe in the incentive program
The program should be fair and properly administered
Employees need to think they can actually achieve the rewards

5. Establishing the Safety Incentive Program
Your approach may depend on many variables:
Nature of operations
Size
Number of employees
Number of work locations (including fixed and temporary job sites)
Which employees will be included
Budget for program

6. Establish Goals
Decide why you want to start an incentive program and what you expect from it
Reduce lost time accidents
Reduce number of injuries
Improve awareness of safety issues and procedures
Reinforce your company’s formal Safety Program

7. Who is Awarded
Pick which employees will be included in the program and how they will be awarded
Team
Individual
Department
Everyone

8. Prize Selection
Company logo items (pens, flashlights, blankets, clothing)
Cash
Gift cards
Safety items (safety glasses, work shoes, hard hats)
Accumulated points for catalog selection
Lunch

9. Appoint Program Coordinator
Someone who is responsible for the program and can monitor how it affects your overall safety program
Could be a safety representative, manager, supervisor, etc.

10. Recognition
There should be a way to inform employees of performance and/or standings
Winners should be announced
Management must recognize employees for their efforts
Some examples of recognition:
Pat on the back
Praise for a job well done
Lunch with owner/manager
Announcement at meeting
Postings on bulletin board

11. Reporting Injuries and Illnesses
Employees must report injuries and illnesses
The Incentive program should not discourage reporting
OSHA discourages incentive programs that reward reductions of “lagging indicators"
Lost time accidents
Injuries (such as back injuries)
OSHA recordables
Days without an accident

12. Leading Indicators Safety training session attendance
Identifying unsafe conditions
Safety suggestions
Completing safety checklists/inspections
Employees displaying safe acts/behaviors

13. Kick Off Present the program to all employees
Go over rules, prizes, and most importantly – the overall goal
Answer any questions the participants have
Get them excited about the program
Management must be involved in this meeting

14. Ideas of Specific Incentive Programs

15. Safety Slogans Employees submit safety slogans
A board, or the safety committee, selects a winner
The winner is selected
Prize or recognition is given to the winner
The safety slogan is posted
This program can run for a month or longer (up to a year)

16. Safety Suggestion Suggestion boxes are placed throughout workplace
Employees place safety suggestions in the boxes
Suggestions are for corrections of unsafe acts, conditions, and health hazards
Each month the safety committee, or board, reviews all entries and votes to select the winner
A prize is given, and/or the winner’s name and suggestion, along with corrective action, are posted

17. Good Housekeeping
Monthly inspections are completed by a member of the safety committee
They inspect different locations individually and score them
Inspectors turn their scores in
The current scores are compared to previous months to decide which location has the most improvement
Most improved location is announced and awarded lunch, or other prize

18. Employee Involvement
Involves all employees, except for managers/supervisors
Program lasts two months, and then is started over
Raffle tickets are distributed to employees displaying safe behavior, reporting near-misses and those who make safety suggestions
Secret employee selected each term, turns in names of those he/she observed doing safe behaviors
All of the raffle ticket recipients’ names will be posted at the end of each 2 month period on the safety bulletin board for recognition.
Once the 2 month period has ended, a winner is selected from a random drawing and the winner receives a $25 gift certificate, or selects a prize from a drawing