December 04 2016
By: Terry L. Mathis
When your safety efforts are in deep trouble, what do you do? Do you urge workers to go back to the basics? Do you compete with production for resources and attention? Do you increase safety's presence on the shop floor? We have seen all these approaches fail. When safety is struggling, what's needed is an innovative strategy and a call to action that will resonate with workers.
This means the organization needs to get creative. The best safety strategies don't come from the safety department but from leaders or a combination of organizational leaders and safety professionals. These approaches are battle plans to turn the tide of accidents and win the war against them. They are plans that add value to safety efforts. The battle plan is not sufficient without the support of the troops. The plan needs to be sold to those who will carry it out and the sales job needs to create emotional, not just intellectual, buy-in. Turning around a failing safety effort is one of the most challenging and thought-provoking tasks we have ever seen leaders address. It is a real test of leadership ability and a classroom that can equip leaders to face almost any challenge to come their way.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
