safety programs

Safety pros shine a light on hazards & grievances

You’re holding the Flashlight

February 7, 2019

Being a safety professional is not black and white like what you learned in university, college or what a safety enforcement officer will tell you. It is in fact, different shades of gray. This you will learn as you grow as a safety professional.

Creating an employee-centric safety culture

You need ownership, training and safety as a value

Adam L. Bates MS, MBA

October 9, 2018

What I call a “True North Safety Culture” is the point at which an organization aligns to a value and goal of eliminating risk(s)/injuries within an organization, and also aligns mission/vision statements to this goal.

J. J. Keller announces 2018 Safety Professional of the Year winners

16th annual awards recognize unique & effective safety programs

September 26, 2018

Tracy Clingingsmith, Safety Manager for Alamo Group in Seguin, Texas, has been named the 2018 Safety Professional of the Year (SPOTY) by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. The SPOTY Awards recognize industry professionals who lead unique and effective approaches to their safety programs. When Clingingsmith started as Safety Manager at Alamo Group in Texas, she changed the culture of how all employees, from the top down, thought about safety.

Canadian utility contractor wins safety award

September 12, 2018

Distinct Infrastructure Group Inc. (DIG) recently announced that it has been recognized by the Utility Contractors Association of Ontario (UCA) with the Association's 2018 Safety Performance Award. Each year the UCA recognizes contractors who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to safety and achieved outstanding safety results. This year DIG was recognized in the category of contractors with over 250,000 hours of work performed.

Electrical contractor reaches 1-million hours without an injury

September 12, 2018

An electrical contractor recently celebrated reaching the milestone of one-million safe working hours. Wayland, Michigan-based Windemuller said in August, 2018 it hit the mark without any recordable OSHA injuries as of July. The company’s streak started in May 2016.

Construction safety threatened by workforce shortages

Contractors identify strong safety programs as means to address skilled labor scarcity and substance abuse

September 10, 2018

A shortage of skilled workers is the number one factor affecting jobsite safety, according to a report by the Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (Index). The report revealed a widespread concern among commercial construction businesses about anticipated labor shortages over the next three years, with 88 percent of contractors expecting to feel at least a moderate impact from the workforce shortages in the next three years.

Want a sustainable safety culture?

Audit these 11 operational discipline essentials

Deborah Grubbe James B. Porter Jr.

August 23, 2018

We know that most of us don’t like to be bounded by a set of rules around our actions and our behaviors; however, there is no sustainable safety culture if there is no operational discipline.

Toolbox talks don’t happen on their own

Matthew Howard

March 22, 2018

If you work in safety then you likely know how valuable toolbox talks can be. Short, timely discussions can boost awareness of important safety issues, increase employee engagement and have a positive effect on safety culture. But toolbox talks don’t just happen on their own—there are several critical steps that contribute to executing a successful talk.

Leaders: A purposeful presence can open up safety dialog

Wallow with your people

David Sarkus MS, CSP

January 1, 2018

When I coach leaders, I often hear that the image of wallowing stays with them long after I’m gone - even when they don’t feel like wallowing! Ultimately, the thought of wallowing moves their thoughts to intentions, and then, purposeful actions.

The importance of a hand safety plan

TJ Scimone

December 21, 2017

Every workplace has unique health and safety requirements: office settings aren’t hard-hat zones and crab fishers don’t worry about typing-related carpal tunnel syndrome. Yet hand safety is a concern regardless of environment or job type.