A Christmas (Safety) Story
Last weekend I came across the official Daisy Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot range model BB gun on sale just in time for Christmas. It reminded me of the famous 1983 classic - A Christmas Story yet again. Ralphie’s personal and family experiences (as viewed from Ralphie’s perspective) are hilarious and entertaining. The film is about childhood and human nature – against the backdrop of the Holidays. The parallels between the movies’ plot and real-life employee safety is very amusing.
Remember Ralphie’s friend’s response to a Triple-Dog-Dare that he stick his tongue to a freezing flag pole? This decidedly unwise act resulted in a dispatch of emergency personnel to free him. Remember Ralphie’s passionate wish to get an official Daisy Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot range model BB gun for Christmas? Everyone (including his mother, teacher and even Santa) admonishes him saying, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” After receiving his Red Ryder, he managed to break his glasses when struck by a BB.
Effective safety programs address lifestyle as well as workplace attitudes and safe behaviors – and do not encourage under reporting of injuries or unsafe practices. Remember what Ralphie did after breaking his glasses? He tried to hide the episode from his mother.
OSHA is concerned with safety incentive programs designed or implemented in such a way as to encourage employees not to report incidents. Lynette Silva discusses OSHA’s concern in this post and offers 3 tips for effective safety programs. Safety recognition is a tool that can promote participation in safety activities and provide rewards to those meeting or exceeding objectives. Silva’s program recommendations include:
- Defining core safety values and associated behaviors that clearly outline what is expected from employees. Values should reflect your desire for employees to proactively report potentially hazardous or unsafe conditions or behaviors.
- Encouraging all employees to recognize each other for living these safety values.
- Leading by example. Make recognizing safe behaviors a part of management KPIs.
Be sure to catch A Christmas Story this year. Even if you’ve seen it a dozen times, it never gets old! From all of us at QIC, we wish you and yours a wonderful time with family and friends this holiday season.
AD HR Service Provider Quality Incentive Company (QIC) designs, implements, and manages incentive and recognition programs that motivate people and drive business results. To learn more about our comprehensive solutions, please visit their website, or contact Brant Dolan at brant.dolan@goqic.com or (630) 687-0192.