How do you build an enduring safety partnership between management
and workers? "T.E.A.M. work" can sure help, stated Elvia
Martinez-Mullins at the most recent Safety Breakfast Meeting hosted by
the Center for Agricultural Business (CAB) at California State
University, Fresno. Of course, Martinez-Mullins may show a little bias
in her statement, since she is the vice president of human resources
for T.E.A.M., which stands for Team Excellence in Agricultural
Management.
One of Martinez-Mullins passions is seeing agricultural and
agribusiness companies enhance the level of safety in their workplace.
That’s why she travels all over the state, serving as a consultant
for businesses seeking to develop, implement or improve their injury
and illness prevention plan, a plan required by law for most
businesses in California.
On Oct. 13 she was in Fresno as the featured speaker at CAB’s
Safety Breakfast Meeting, discussing "The Importance of Safety
Partnerships." By partnerships, Martinez-Mullins means
individuals at all levels of a company partnering together to make
safety a top priority.
HOW TO BUILD A SAFETY PARTNERSHIP TEAM
A critical element to a successful safety program is to have
everyone in the company committed to it, Martinez-Mullins said. By
category, that includes owners, supervisors and employees. "You
have to have all three involved in order to make it work," she
said. The company owners must provide the impetus for the program,
since the company itself is responsible for creating and maintaining a
safe production or service atmosphere. Following are seven key
elements a company must build into its operating philosophy in order
establish an effective safety program:
- Develop "safety vision"
- Obtain company/management commitment
- Develop a "user-friendly" safety program
- Build strong-skilled and well-trained supervisors
- Continually seek employee "buy-in"
- Establish a safety steering committee
- Build a successful safety incentive program
Starting or improving a company safety program means change,
Martinez-Mullins noted. It means management with revised company
objectives; supervisors with additional responsibilities; and workers
with new rules and regulations. Few of these changes will come easily,
so it is important to follow appropriate steps in developing and
implementing a program. Safety program goals and objectives should be
outlined in the following ways:
- As realistic – When goals are too high, employees may become
discouraged and lose their motivation.
- As attainable – Objectives must be established within
attainable ranges, or the results will be worse than no goals at
all.
- Offering room for growth – An objective should require an
employee to reach for increased or improved output (no accidents).
- With clarity – All three company parties (employer,
supervisor, and employee) must have the same understanding of what
is to be achieved.
- Measurable – If the desired accomplishment cannot be measured,
it will be only a matter of opinion as to whether or not goals are
accomplished.
- Written – Putting objectives in writing ensures that goals are
clear, measurable and may be compared at later dates.
- Clearly communicated – Everyone must know the what, why,
where, why and how.
- With follow-up – Most of us assume that once the employees are
"told" what we are doing, that they understand it, may
not necessarily be true.
DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES
Not everyone faces the same daily workplace situation, or hazards,
therefore each individual in the company will have a distinct role to
play in implementing a safety policy, Martinez-Mullins said. Owners
must provide the financial and other resources for the program;
supervisors must facilitate implementation and be the liaison between
owner and employee. Field and floor workers are the front line forces
and must put into practice the habits and behaviors that will prevent
injuries. Following are brief outlines of attitudes, and strategies,
that will help make a safety program successful.
What is the supervisor’s role?
- Value your employees
- Set a proper example
- Clearly communicate the "safety vision"
- Review the JSA’s thoroughly with the employees
- Motivate your employees
- Recognize jobs well done
What is the employee’s role?
- Know the "safety vision"
- Realize that safety is a job requirement
- Participate in safety awareness
- Know that they are responsible for the safety of their peers
- Recognize that ALL accidents are preventable
What is everyone’s safety responsibility?
- Know the "safety vision"
- Train fellow employees
- Correct unsafe work practices
- Hold workplace safety inspections
- Investigate all accidents
- Listen to employees’ concerns and complaints about unsafe
conditions
The bottom line is – safety should be everyone’s business,
Martinez-Mullins said. Not only will an effective safety program
result in fewer accidents and injuries to employees, it can result in
increased production and better morale for employees who know they are
highly valued by the company.
Martinez-Mullins and other members of the T.E.A.M. team are
available for workshops, seminars and consulting in the area of safety
as well as in bilingual personnel management and labor relations.
Their Fresno office is located at 4222 W. Alamos Ave., Suite 201.
Phone numbers are (559) 277-8254, or (916) 765-1704 for
Martinez-Mullins’ direct line.
UPCOMING SAFETY BREAKFAST MEETINGS
The next safety breakfast meeting hosted by CAB will provide an
"Update on the New Agricultural Safety and Health Project and
Educational Outreach Efforts." The meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, November 10, 1999. Speaker will be Michael C. Alvarez, area
manager for the California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA
Consultation Services.
The meeting will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the CATI Conference
Room at the California Agricultural Technology Institute, 2910 E.
Barstow Ave., Fresno, California.
Safety Breakfast meetings are hosted monthly (normally each second
Wednesday) by the Center for Agricultural Business. The purpose is to
provide a forum for safety professionals to meet and exchange ideas,
information and concerns. Topics vary according to interests and needs
of the agricultural and agribusiness industries.
More than 20 sponsoring businesses and organizations currently
provide financial support for the safety breakfast meetings. Sponsors
names are listed on publicity fliers and signs at the meetings. For
more information or to discuss becoming a sponsor, call (559)
278-4405.
