View of an iceberg above and below the water

Iceberg Effect: The Hidden Cost of an Accident Onsite

by with No Comment Safety Managers

In occupational safety, the Iceberg Effect refers to the fact that there are huge costs to consider when an accident occurs onsite that are not always easy to see. Just like an iceberg, there are obvious costs that you can easily see above the water. But, like an iceberg, most of the massive costs are hidden below the water.

ABOVE THE WATER

Above the water are the initial, obvious and visible costs of an accident. Depending on the severity of the accident, an employee may miss work for a few hours, days, months or may not be able to return to the job at all. The organization may owe a significant amount of workers comp & other fees.

Average Cost Estimate: $2,000-20,000

BELOW THE WATER

However, below the water there are all the indirect, hidden costs that an accident might trigger.

  • Cost of investigating an incident
  • Increase in insurance costs
  • Training a temporary replacement
  • Potential lawsuit and legal fees
  • Productivity and morale loss of employee & team
  • Negative publicity
  • Lost contracts and damage to customer relationships

Like an iceberg, what is below the water is much more than above.

Indirect costs can be up to 4-10x higher than initial costs

Avoid the iceberg all together by investing in proper and thorough safety programs, cultivating a culture of safety, acquiring proper PPE and training up front. Initial costs may seem higher, but this will save money in the long term. It will also ensure that workers feel safe and go home uninjured.

Browse our PPE here.

BOOTS, HARDHAT, GLOVES, GOOGLES AND EARMUFFS

PPE: Last Line of Defense

by with No Comment Safety Managers

When designing a Safety Program, there are several cautionary measures to take before relying on personal protective equipment. While PPE is absolutely necessary, it should always be the LAST line of defense, as the other measures are more effective. The hierarchy of controls places PPE at the top, meaning it functions at its best when all other controls are in place.

HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS

ELIMINATION

The most effective way to protect workers is to physically remove the hazard from the workplace. The core idea is to design workplaces & worksites to eliminate any potential hazards.

SUBSTITUTION

Substitution refers to replacing hazardous materials or pieces of equipment that are less hazardous – if they are feasible.

ENGINEERING CONTROLS

When a hazard cannot be eliminated or substituted, engineering controls should be put in place to isolate or distance the worker from the hazard, or stop the hazard from progressing. This means adding guards/barriers to equipment, designing emergency brakes or stops etc.

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

Administrative controls takes many things into consideration including but not limited too:

  1. Rotating work schedules and breaks to limit exposure to hazards
  2. Posting clear signage of procedures & guidance
  3. Proper maintenance and cleaning of equipment and work places
  4. Thorough and clear training programs

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PPE is there for further protection when all other forms fail. PPE is absolutely essential and lifesaving. However, we often forget to prioritize the other forms of protection in the hierarchy and that forces us to rely too heavily on our PPE. This increases chances of an accident. PPE functions best when all other controls are in place.

Browse our PPE here.

Happy Safety Manager

Safety Managers: Overcoming Resistance to Change

by with No Comment Safety Managers

A safety manager’s job is no walk in the park. They have to handle training, compliance, and getting the necessary safety gear. But one of the biggest challenges they face is getting others to buy into safety changes. Prioritizing safety often means changing the way things are done, which can make people resistant. Employers worry about their budget and deadlines, while employees worry about their time and their product. So, how can a safety manager overcome this resistance? 

One key approach is to make sure that safety goals are a fundamental part of the company’s values, KPIs, and goal measurement systems. If the importance of safety is clearly stated, the safety manager can use that to push for necessary changes. 

When faced with resistance, safety managers can choose from four tactics: 

Feed it – If the safety leader themselves shows resistance, how can they expect their team to embrace change? Employees look to their supervisors for guidance, so it’s important for managers to support the changes and avoid contradicting them through their actions and decisions. When managers make statements like “they want you to” or “I don’t necessarily agree, but we have to,” or contradict the change through their decisions and actions, employees perceive the change as optional. This kind of leadership behavior only fuels resistance. When discussing resistance with leaders, the safety manager must stand firm as the team’s advocate, having full faith that the changes will ensure safety.  

Ignore it – It’s a common mistake for managers to assume that the changes being made aren’t a big deal and that employees will eventually get on board. But the reality is that resistance to change should be expected and planned for. Ignoring it only prolongs the inevitable and makes it more difficult to overcome. Addressing resistance promptly and effectively, with both leaders and employees, is crucial. 

Avoid it – Nobody likes to be the bad guy, and most people try to avoid conflict if they can. Some managers may keep conversations about resistance brief and shy away from seeking feedback from leaders and employees. They keep themselves busy with other tasks to avoid addressing the issue. However, resistance can only be avoided for so long before it becomes a major obstacle. Sooner or later, it must be confronted. Avoiding it only wastes more time and effort in the long run.  

Unearth it – This is the most successful way to tackle resistance. It involves recognizing and acknowledging the resistance and bringing it out into the open. Managers should work to understand why there is resistance and have meaningful conversations with employees and leaders to address their concerns without judgment. They should actively support employees through the change, explaining how it aligns with safety and productivity goals. Successful managers engage employees and leaders, seek feedback, take ownership of the change, invest time, build trust, actively listen, seek to understand, and remain authentic. When dealing with leaders, it’s important to offer data-backed information on accidents, near-misses, and industry trends. Highlighting the financial and productivity risks of potential accidents is a powerful lever when addressing higher-ups. 

Most of the time, employees are not resistant to technical change but to social change, a shift in their human relations. It takes time to empathize, gather feedback, and reach a mutual understanding. While employers may be concerned about deadlines and budgets, deprioritizing safety is far too risky and can ultimately compromise both deadlines and budgets even further. Address resistance head on, with empathy and respect, and your team and leaders will be on board in no-time! 

  1. https://www.ehsinsight.com/blog/dealing-with-safety-resistance
  2. https://www.ehstoday.com/safety-leadership/article/21920142/unearthing-resistance-to-change-why-it-matters
safety department

Building a Safety Culture: The Secret ingredient to an Effective Safety Program. 

by with No Comment Safety Managers

Imagine a workplace where everyone is fully committed to safety, where rules and protocols aren’t just words on a page, but a way of life. That’s the power of a robust safety culture, and no safety program can thrive without it. 

So, how do you create this culture? It starts at the top. Leaders must champion safety and make it a priority. It should be woven into key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure accountability. 

The safety department should be proactive –  anticipating accidents and implementing preventive measures. They should constantly analyze and refine existing processes to keep everyone safe.  (Learn more about what a safety manager actually does here.)

But a safety culture isn’t just about the safety department. Everyone in the company plays a role. In order to get people on board, several things should be put into place.  

Clear safety goals and a plan to achieve them should be communicated clearly throughout the organization. Every team member should be involved and invested in the plan. 

Safety training is crucial, and it should be required and interesting for all employees. It should be accessible, considering all cultural and language differences.  

Consistent communication is key, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and confusion is avoided. There should be clear communications channels, digital or otherwise, and a clear chain of command. Leadership should be one voice, employees shouldn’t be confused by contradicting voices.  

Accountability and incentivization are a must. No one is above safety standards, and violations should be addressed equitably. At the same time, team members who adhere to standards and call out unsafe practices should be recognized and rewarded. 

Empowerment is vital. All team members should feel empowered to stop work if they deem it unsafe, and they should also be encouraged to intervene if they see others engaging in risky behavior. Safety should always come first, even if it means adjusting project timelines. 

Strong investigations and reporting are essential. Every accident, incident, and near-miss should be thoroughly investigated to identify potential risks and prevent future incidents. 

Lastly, a strong safety culture should be celebrated and rewarded. A record without accidents and proactive behaviors should be acknowledged regularly. 

Creating a strong safety culture is more than just ticking boxes. It requires commitment, communication, empowerment, and a shared responsibility for the safety of all. Once everyone is fully invested, the workplace becomes a safer and more enjoyable environment for all. 

  1. https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2022/12/01/Creating-a-Safety-Culture.aspx 
  1. https://www.onsitesafety.com/safety-articles/top-10-ways-to-build-a-great-safety-culture
Safety Manager

Safety Managers: What do they ACTUALLY do?

by with No Comment Safety Managers

The Safety Manager, the unsung heroes, who ensure accidents don’t happen and employees go home safe. They have a vital role without which everything else onsite cannot happen. But what does that role really entail? It goes beyond just nagging employees about wearing their PPE properly. 

  1. Regulatory Compliance – Safety Managers must have extensive knowledge about regulations relevant to their industry and how they apply to every situation onsite. They decipher the sometimes confusing language of OSHA, EPA, ANSI, and other regulating bodies. If an OSHA violation leads to an accident, the safety manager is held accountable. 
  1. Training – Safety Managers must make training interesting and accessible to all employees, ensuring they have a clear and deep understanding. 
  1. Instilling a Safety Culture – It’s not just about training. Safety Managers must motivate their team to WANT TO follow the rules, wear PPE, and look out for their coworkers. They need to impart knowledge and motivation. 
  1. Data Analyst – Safety programs are supported by data. Safety Managers know what data to collect, how to collect it, and how to analyze and create reports from it. 
  1. Investigations – If an accident occurs, the safety manager leads the investigation, creates reports, and troubleshoots to prevent a recurrence. 
  1. Marketing – Safety programs involve logos, posters, events, and cheerleading. Safety Managers get creative, creating contests and incentives to keep people engaged and motivated. 
  1. Purchaser – Safety Managers oversee purchasing PPE for their team, considering the hazards present and ensuring adequate protection. They know how employees can get hurt and make sure they have the necessary safeguards. 

Safety managers have a pivotal role that affects the health and wellbeing of those working in the industry. It is much more than just enforcing safety rules and regulations, it’s a demanding job that requires a diverse set of skills including regulatory compliance, training, instilling a strong safety culture, data analysis, investigations of accidents and creative marketing. You must be motivated to take on this challenging position and stay focused on protecting all employees from potential workplace hazards.