Machine Safety: Does sustainability matter?

Effective, sustainable machine safety programs often contain these five high-level characteristics. Also see two more possible components of successful programs. These may help with your machine safety program’s consistency and focus over time.

JB Titus

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Sustainability and company DNA (or company culture) are often thought of as somewhat analogous terms. Both terms suggest consistency over time, durability and the ability to endure. If so, how would you define your machine safety program’s consistency and focus over time? Need help? See below for five high-level characteristics (and two more possible components) of effective, sustainable machine safety programs.

Sustainable machine safety programs help produce sustainable businesses. Why? Because safety pays! There are numerous testimonials today supporting the claim that safety pays because every dollar saved in a safety initiative goes directly to the bottom line. So, it looks like sustainability does matter but what are the key ingredients of an effective sustainable machine safety program?

In my opinion, there are at least...

5 high level characteristics of effective, sustainable machine safety programs

1. A top down/bottom up corporate safety culture which includes; vision, goals, solutions, commitments, measurements and resources.
2. A safety management system, which includes programs such as:

3. A reporting process which embraces open acceptance and organizational feedback for safety hazards.
4. Documentation and archiving methodologies.
5. Open and accurate “report out” practices to employees including topics like trending, accident incidence, OSHA recordables, goals, best practices, confidential contact information, etc.

Two elements of a sustainable program

I believe an example sustainable machine safety program might include:

Goal - zero workplace fatalities

Vision - to become recognized by stakeholders as a global sustainability leader in occupational health and safety (OH&S). To accomplish this we must:

• Learn from any failures in our safety systems and processes
• Prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a strong safety culture
• Build capability in all of our team members through education and practical training.

Your comments or suggestion are always welcome so please let us know your thoughts. Submit your ideas, experiences, and challenges on this subject in the comments section below.

Related articles:

Risk Assessment – A Best Practice For Sustainable Performance

Machine Safety – where do effective safety cultures roost?

Machine Safety – the myths of safety cultures.

Effective Safety Cultures: Myths, Magic, and Reality, Earl Blair

Safety Culture: A Model for Understanding and Quantifying a Difficult Concept

Contact: http://www.jbtitus.com for “Solutions for Machine Safety”.