This article is part of a new monthly FM News feature called Safety InSight, where safety-related stories are shared to help inform, inspire and enhance safe production in daily operations.
The start of a new year brings a new opportunity to put safety above all else through a new virtual training program designed to help employees better understand of how to turn their safety commitment into action.
Available through the company’s Coaching for Success series for North America sites, the course is being offered in January and February and is mandatory for all frontline leaders.
“This new training is another important tool for providing employees with the knowledge and skills needed to do their jobs safely and for reinforcing safety as a core value,” said Stacey Koon, Vice President-Corporate Health and Safety.
The new course reviews safety successes in 2023 as well as serious incidents to help employees recognize where safeguards failed. During the training, leaders across the organization will have an opportunity to share best practices and make commitments in four basic areas of health and safety: pre-job planning, reinforcing safe behaviors, ensuring safe workplace conditions and following up.
The training builds on what started in June of last year as a recommitment to safety following several months of declining performance. North America employees participated in dedicated safety discussions, reinforcing safety and work expectations as well as accountability. These discussions included the distribution of safety commitment cards for employees and leaders to sign and carry as a reminder of the importance and expectation to work safely and hold each other accountable.
Since then, safety performance has improved, with a decrease in the number of incidents overall. However, there has been an uptick in high-energy and potentially fatal events.
“While we saw improvement in 2023, we still have work to do. Now is not the time to let up, but rather to hunker down and focus intently on safety and build on our momentum and progress,” Koon said.
In 2024, we want to be the best at the basics, and safety is at the heart of that. The new training helps employees learn together, and when we do that, we find practical ways to keep people working safely,” she said.
Coaching for Success was created to inspire dynamic leadership and provide skills to effectively enhance professional development while supporting company goals. A different topic is featured each month, with 45-minute, instructor-led sessions held online. Learn more and check out previous topics and resources.