Machine Safety: Effective safety cultures, can they evolve?

Many in manufacturing seek advice on waking management to opportunities for a “Best in Class” safety culture, or even a better safety culture.

By J.B. Titus, CFSE January 10, 2013

How many times have I been approached by someone in manufacturing asking for advice on waking management to opportunities for a “Best in Class” safety culture? Or even a better safety culture?

At probably two out of every five Machine Safety seminars an attendee will ask this question. This question comes after we’ve spent time discussing the organizational attributes of great safety cultures with top down / bottom up characteristics and priorities. We also spend considerable time reviewing the business case supporting “Best in Class” safety cultures and the dramatic bottom line results that can be derived. We even present white papers and published articles that support these precepts, such as: Integrated Safety Systems: Ensuring Safety and Operational Productivity completed by the Aberdeen Group. They surveyed over 120 executives that revealed when executives understand that innovative new machine safety solutions are available offering opportunities for increased profitability – corporate strategies and safety policy begin to shift. This report is very convincing with facts and figures attesting to the bottom line results.

But, (There’s always a “but”!) what are the best practices for sparking that fire to awaken management to the opportunities for making substantial changes and setting goals to pursue “Best in Class”?

  • We know there’s gold in them thar hills
  • We know there’s testimonials validating financial benefits
  • We know there’s testimonials substantiating improved employee safety
  • And, we know there’s testimonials validating improved employee morale

Great! Now, where’s the step by step plan on how to awaken and motivate management? Does anyone have any answers?

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:

How To Integrate Safety

Machine safety and your safety culture

The CEO of Anglo American on Getting Serious About Safety

Machine safety pays off

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