Introducing - "The Floor Model"!

  Interested in improving Safety Culture? Have I got a deal for you, it's called The Floor Model and it’s a sure-fire method to do just that. In the last five years, we've surveyed employees from hundreds of organizations, they all tell us the same thing. Now I'll share these amazing discoveries with you, and it will transform your thinking about safety culture and the value-add it brings to enhanced profitability.  All organizations have undiscovered "Conditions That Exist For An Accident To Occur" or what I call CTEFAATO's (See-ta-fa-too's). The challenge is finding them. The science of safety management teaches that front line employees (or employees on the floor) know where all the CTEFAATO's are.  Employee reporting has enormous potential for organizational efficiency, identifying and reducing latent safety risk. So... it’s easy then, just ask employees to report the CTEFAATO, right? If it were only that simple. Our employee surveys reveal an astounding discovery. Employees want to report "Safety Issues". They understand the benefit to themselves, coworkers and the company. So, by now you are thinking, sure, everyone knows the top reasons employees don't report safety issues; it’s too difficult to report, fear of retribution, nothing ever changes after reporting, etc. etc. While those reasons are true and a hindrance to employee reporting, they are not the TOP REASON employees don't report. The TOP REASON, as told to us by employees is...…. Employees don't really know or understand what a safety issue is! To the employee, spilled oil, a burned out light bulb, or a loose safety strip on the stairs are safety issues. And while they are in fact safety issues, most safety professionals agree these type of safety issues do not provide high yield safety intelligence in terms of identifying and correcting systemic safety issues.  So, what's then is the solution?  Simply provide employees with a list of safety issues to report. Issues like; I was hurried to complete a job, I didn't have the proper tool for the job, I received a poor shift turn over, I often work fatigued, my supervisor encourages shortcuts to get the job done faster, we do not have the required PPE, the work area has many distractions, the OEM written procedures are difficult to understand or dysfunctional, I was told to complete a job I'm not trained or qualified to do, etc. etc. These types of reports lend high yield safety intelligence. More importantly, employees are usually the sole source for such intelligence. It's called the Floor Model because the safety intelligence comes from employees on the floor. Options to implement the Floor Model are many; you can create a list of things to report and post them on a safety bulletin board, make a 3 X 5 card listed safety items employees can fill out and drop into a lock box, or create a smartphone app with your safety report checklist. Additionally, as you identify and correct systemic safety issues, you can modify your list for other emerging safety concerns. Be sure to encourage, even reward employees for reporting. Again, our research clearly shows that employees want to contribute but don't know how. The Floor Model provides a meaningful venue for enhanced employee reporting, increased employee satisfaction, high yield safety intelligence, reduced safety risk, and increased profitability by reducing the potential for accidental loss. Let's talk more about way to improve your safety, contact me at: [email protected]