6 STEPS For Starting A Health & Safety Management System
Aug 29, 2014
6 STEPSFor Starting A
Health & Safety Management System
A Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) oversees all safety policies and procedures in your facility.
It is not required by OSHA, but it helps keep safety programs organized and sets the tone for a safe work environment.
INTRO What is an HSMS?
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
According to OSHA, workplaces with an HSMS experience lost workday incidence rates 60-80% lower than other companies in their industries.
Starting your own HSMS takes work, but ultimately it will be good for business.
INTRO Why you need an HSMS?
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
236 daysinjury free!
Management needs to develop key documents and communicate with key employees to start a system.
Management sets the tone for safety in the workplace, so starting at the top is necessary.
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
Read on to discover the6 Simple Steps
INTRO Getting Started...
The Policy Statement
Management should begin by writing a policy statement – a vision statement for safety.
This statement will explain the value the company places on safety, and safety managers, employees and management will refer back to it in the future when making safety decisions.
STEP 1
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
Set GoalsNext management needs to get more specific and set goals.
Goals give safety managers, supervisors and employeesparticular areas forimprovement to focus on.
Example Goals:1) Reduce injuries this quarter.2) Involve more employees in safety programs.
STEP 2
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
Create objectives
Now it’s time to get even more specific. How will those goals be accomplished? Create objectives – tasks that can be completed and measured to help achieve goals.
Example: If the goal is to reduce the number of injuries from repetitive motion this quarter then...
1) Have stretch breaks twice per shift
2) Do a walk-through to observe ergonomics weekly*Remember: Objectives need to be realistic and measureable.
STEP 3
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
Form an Action Plan
Now that you have specific goals and objectives, how will you ensure they’re carried out? Make an action plan dealing with the details:
Who will be in charge of tasks? How soon do objectives need to be accomplished? Are resources like money or equipment needed?
Plan it out, write it down, tell people about it.
STEP 4
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
Safety
action
leadership
plan
Assign Responsibilities
Employees need to see management takesthe new HSMS seriously. Assigning roles and conducting training can help with this. Don’t just leave safety up to a safety manager. Give everyone responsibilities.Ensuring safety is enforced and good behavior rewarded will communicate to employees that safety matters at the company. Keep in mind positive reinforcement is often more effective than punishment.
STEP 5
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
Involve Employees
Engaging employees with the new system is the best way to encourage participation. Involve employees by doing the following: - Consult them when creating safety procedures- Involve them in hazard investigations- Encourage them to submit suggestions (and recognize those whose ideas are implemented)- Discuss possible changes to operations, training, PPE, etc.
STEP 6
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
To keep an HSMS from losing steam, be sure to provide sufficient training, create mechanisms for regularly assessing hazards and make plans for how to roll out updates.
Keep the culture of safety alive with safety discussions and visual reminders like signs and posters.
INTRO Keep Safety A Priority
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360
The leaders in visual safety
We’ve got you covered.Creative Safety Supply works with companies both
large and small to help them with theirArc Flash Labeling, Software and Signage needs.
We also carry a host of PDCA, Lean, 5S, 6S Kaizen,
Kanban and Continuous Improvement products.
All rights reserved - www.creativesafetysupply.com • 866-777-1360