Active Safety Management Programs Lead to Declining Injury Rates – Safety.BLR.com Survey Finds
A Business & Legal Reports, Inc. (BLR) survey established a strong relationship between the safety culture of an organization and the activity level of its safety professionals.
Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) June 16, 2005 -- There is a positive payback for
organizations active safety management programs, according to an online survey
conducted at Safety.BLR.com, “Making Safety Training and Compliance Easier”. The
survey, conducted in May 2005, found declining OSHA injury and illness rates and
fewer worker compensation claims in firms with strong safety
programs.
The Business & Legal Reports, Inc. (BLR) survey established
a strong relationship between the safety culture of an organization and the
activity level of its safety professionals. Fully 77 percent of the more than
400 respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that their company had a
positive safety culture.
Subscribers to Safety.BLR.com have high rates of
voluntary compliance with best safety practices recommended, but not yet
required, by federal OSHA. At least 89 percent have written health and safety
programs, nearly everyone provides at least annual training, and 81 percent have
a very active or somewhat active safety committee.
Declining injury
rates
Steve Quilliam, managing editor of Safety.BLR.com commented: “These
results confirm the important effect that an active safety program can have on
the safety culture of an organization. Looking at the high rates of program
activity, it’s no surprise that more than half of survey respondents reported a
decline in injury and illness rates over the past five years.”
Higher
workers’ comp claims
On the flip side, of those respondents who saw
increases in their workers’ compensation claims, only 15 percent strongly agreed
with the statement that their organizations had a positive safety culture. For
respondents who saw decreases in workers’ comp claims, 29percent strongly
agreed.
BLR’s safety editors recommend these tips for improving their
safety management programs:
· Develop a written safety program like one of
the ones available at Safety.BLR.com and stick to it
· Establish a safety
committee with representatives from all company areas
· Get workers involved
in their own safety
· Post safety results
· Get management buy-in to your
program–talk their language and tie your results to organizational
goals.
Download the full results to “How Effective Is Your Safety”
culture at http://www.blr.com/81001600/PRS22
About BLR
Old
Saybrook, Conn.-based BLR produces plain-English compliance and training
resources for safety, HR, compensation, and environmental managers. For more
information, call 800-727-5257 or visit www.BLR.com.
Contact:
Safety.BLR.com Managing Editor
Steve Quilliam
860-510-0100, ext. 2148
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb250965.htm