MODULE 3: EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT

Introduction

It's difficult to have an effective safety and health management system without developing a corporate safety culture that encourages genuine employee involvement. Why is it important to motivate employees to be involved in safety? Simply put, involvement increases ownership. We value what we own. We use what we own. What does this mean to safety professionals: Employees will use their "own" procedures when not being directly supervised. With this important principle in mind, it's important to understand that employees are much more likely to use safe practices and procedures they are involved in designing. Ownership increases the rate of safe behaviors when employees are not being directly supervised.

This module will take a look at safety incentive and recognition programs, the first of two strategies for developing employee involvement in the safety and health program. Safety communications, the second of two strategies discussed, will be covered later in Module 3.