How do you ever begin to put a value on one’s life? How hard would it be to see a loved one, employee or friend lose their life, a limb, hand or finger? We all feel a bit overwhelmed at times tackling the never-ending to-do lists that are a part of our daily routines. We all know how hard it is to make time to focus on safety, especially with our fast-paced lifestyles.
According to Merriam-Webster, culture is “a way of thinking, behaving or working that exists in a place or organization.” Culture isn’t an isolated department on your farm; it’s a part of everything you do.
Safety is also not a department. It is not the job of a safety manager. It is not just something put on paper to comply with standards or regulations. It must be incorporated into all daily activities and processes.
We always say “safety first,” but in reality, a focus on safety should not just come at the beginning of a project. It should be at the core of every activity, throughout every task, in all aspects of day-to-day work.
Following OSHA standards is the absolute minimum when it comes to safety. These regulations must be complied with to meet legal requirements. If the goal is to simply meet our legal obligation, we are not doing what is right for the employee and, as a result, we are not doing what is right for the business or farm.
Safety, quality and efficient production should all be at the same level on the dairy farm. If an employee is injured on the job, a quality product is not produced, or production goals are not met, have we accomplished what we set out to do? Falling short of the goal in any of these categories has the same result: money lost.
So how do we instill a “culture of safety” on our own farms when it’s often a struggle to keep up with the current workload?
Bottom line: It has to start with you, and it’s not as overwhelming as it may seem.
Model and communicate safety standards to your team
To begin creating a safety culture, first set the example. Employees will only take safety as seriously as their supervisor does. You can’t just say you’re creating a safety culture; you have to “walk the walk” in everything you do.
Next, address all safety-related issues immediately. Regardless of severity, address and correct any unsafe behavior right away if possible. Ignoring the problem will only leave the impression that safety is only important when you have time to address it. At minimum, discuss a plan to address the issue in a reasonable amount of time.
As you address an issue, do not blame anyone for the problem. Individuals should be congratulated (rewarded) for bringing issues to the attention of management so that they may be corrected. By rewarding personnel for this type of behavior, you will encourage others to bring up additional issues. If fingers are pointed and blame is assigned, problems will not be identified due to the fear of being held responsible.
That said, if employees are not following written programs or procedures, they need to be corrected immediately and re-trained if necessary. But remember: Praise in public and discipline in private.
Keeping it manageable
Don’t try to tackle all safety regulations at once. Break down your list into smaller steps that are easier to complete. Why not start by looking at 12 areas that OSHA has defined?
OSHA calls them the “Dairy Dozen.” These are 12 key hazard areas common on many farms and can help you focus your efforts. You can access the list on OSHA’s website.
Print a copy and share it with your co-workers, employees and loved ones. Some very simple training and documentation of that training can go a long way in preventing accidents. It will also be a big help should OSHA ever pay a visit to your farm.
Building a safety manual
Compile all of your safety information, procedures and training documentation into a file, folder or binder. You now have the beginning of your own safety manual. The Internet or your insurance provider can be great resources.
Print a simple form that can be used to document any and all efforts you use to communicate safety procedures. You may have new employees read the information when they are hired, or you may hold short, informal safety meetings.
Either way, have each employee sign and date the form and keep it on file in your office. Always remember to keep the training and documentation simple; when things get complicated, they get ignored.
Safety is a key responsibility of management. Managers must provide all the tools, equipment, training, time, etc., for employees to be able to perform their assigned jobs safely.
It is the employee’s responsibility to use the resources provided to them by management. An employee also has the responsibility to identify hazards and notify management who, in turn, should correct the issues or re-train employees as appropriate.
Have patience
You can’t create a culture of safety overnight. This is a process that will take time to develop, and one slip by management could take you several steps back.
Once a culture of safety is in place, the only way to keep it is to continually improve. Identify opportunities to improve your procedures, programs, equipment, etc. Don’t get complacent with what you have in place.
Refer to this information on a regular basis. Review it with employees and family members often. Check out safety supply catalogues for posters to create awareness.
The final test is to determine what individuals do when no one is looking. You know you’re moving in the right direction when an employee is asked why he or she is performing a task the way it was designed, and the response is: “It’s the right thing to do and that’s just how we do things here!”
