Safety
Zero Accident Culture: Disrespectful Today…Employer of Choice Tomorrow
By implementing a safety solution process, you make a difference to your most important asset—your employees and profits.
John Wayhart
Solid waste collection is #7 of the top ten most dangerous jobs in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This directly impacts the cost of workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability insurance which indirectly impacts the bottom line of these companies in other ways. Many companies are falling short when it comes to putting the right processes in place to eliminate exposure and improve employee relations after an injury has occurred according to the benchmark data. Following are cost-effective solutions to these issues.1
Great Companies Versus Good or Average Organizaions
The three most disrespectful things companies do every day to their employees and don’t even know it are:
Not reporting a work injury the Day of the Occurrence
Not evaluating the Core “Root” Causation to a corrective state or elimination
Not communicating the “lesson learned” to everyone in the organization in order to prevent another person from being injured
It is so easy to forget how your company became successful. The hard work, attention to detail, absolute conviction toward your employees and the quality of their work can begin to take a back seat when the focus is on top line growth and profit.
This is exactly the space where great companies separate themselves from good or average organizations. In the psychology of the work environment it is oftentimes the little things that are truly the home run or where great companies consistently “knock the cover off the ball.”
Nevertheless, the three (unknowingly) most disrespectful things continue to be present. When a company begins to take itself and their employees for granted, trouble looms right around the corner. The disrespect goes three ways: your injured employee, all of your employees and then your business.
Inexpensive Solutions
A simple, easy and extremely inexpensive correction is all it takes. Let’s think about each one and why they are important.
Day of Reporting
Efficient and proper medical attention
Medical bills and temporary disability payments are established with the insurance company
Appropriate documentation for possible subrogation
Shows your care and concern for your injured worker and their family
Establishes trust
Evaluation of the Core (Root) Causation of Loss to Eliminate/Reduce Exposure
Immediately reconfirms care and trust
Removes a known exposure to prevent injury
Sets an example to learn from mistakes, continuous improvement process
Potential for improving operational efficiency
Injured worker returns more proud, more motivated of their job and company
Communication of Lesson(s) Learned to Everyone in the Company
Teaches everyone within the company how to perform their work in a safer manner
Spotlight shines on safety
Organizational strength and readiness; creates a best practice for the company
Places appropriate respect for when someone is injured—we have to make a difference
Reinforces the zero accident culture process
As a Result
How much do these three processes cost to implement? The answer is insignificant when you compare it to not implementing any kind of safety solution process. As you can imagine, the return on investment to implement each of these techniques is significant. Each of these risk management techniques will become your “tipping point” to impact workplace safety and productivity. After implementation, some of the following will begin to happen:
Begin to experience a reduction in the frequency and severity of work related injury
Accelerated return to work
Reduction in litigated claims
Operational efficiencies in workplace safety, claims management and work culture
Reduction of fraudulent or malingering workers compensation claims.
Lower your experience modification factor, lower composite rating on automobile insurance
Building an employer of choice organization
The companywide communication to your field operations about Day of Reporting, Core Causation/Corrective Action and Strong Communication Plan on the Lesson(s) Learned is powerful, meaningful and demonstrates the care you have for your employees—“It’s the Right Thing to do!”
Great organizations seem to do everything well and it’s these little things that might appear to be trivial to some. Make a difference to your most important asset—your employees and profits will follow.
John Wayhart is a Senior Vice President at Assurance Agency, Ltd. With more than 29 years in the insurance & risk management industry, his expertise lies in providing solutions for a wide range of businesses including waste and recycling industry. For help, assistance or a consultation to your company on the Creation of a Zero Accident Culture® he can be reached
at (847) 463-7161 or via e-mail at [email protected].
*2011 copyright – Zero Accident Culture® is a registered trademark – John Wayhart.
Note
Article is an excerpt pulled from Wayhart’s Zero Accident Culture® philosophy.