Login

USERNAME
PASSWORD

Become a Registered Guest Login Help Lost Password?

As more and more landscape companies turn to a foreign workforce to meet their labor needs, the emphasis on safety can sometimes become diluted. Teaching a staff to be safety conscience is a huge struggle for any company, but adding in communication challenges with cultural differences can sidetrack even the most well-thought-out safety program.

The following are some important considerations for revamping your safety program – to bring together all your employees, regardless of their backgrounds.

Language ... It is imperative that all safety signage, meetings, tests, orientations, handbooks, and so forth are given in all languages. You absolutely cannot afford the liability risk associated with not properly explaining job risks to employees. Local high school language teachers are excellent "part time" resources for safety meetings and handbook translations.

Safety meetings ... These meetings should always be translated, either verbally or in writing. Hold meetings in smaller groups to force interaction among attendees. In larger meetings, people have a tendency to "get lost," and facilitators find it more difficult to know if everyone is on track. Remember the golden rule of safety meetings - if you do not have your employees sign an attendance record at the meeting, in the eyes of OSHA and your insurance company, you never had the meeting. OSHA will ask to see safety meeting attendance records and so will your insurance company's risk control auditor. In fact, many larger bids now request documented safety meeting attendance. Be proactive, not reactive.

Enforcement ... Be fair and firm in the enforcement of safety infractions when implementing a safety program. Treat all employees equally. Nothing causes a safety program to fail more quickly than a flimsy or sporadic enforcement practice. Your employees are watching to see how you handle every incident. To help you stay on track, keep a logbook on how you handle certain situations.

The Fear Factor ... Hispanic workers oftentimes hesitate to speak up when issues arise. A damage-causing accident or injury on the job site often goes unreported for fear that the employee will lose his or her job or suffer severe punishment. It is important that you consistently emphasize the point that accidents happen and that it: is much better to report the incident to the client, and to you, instead of the company getting an angry phone call about the incident a week later.

Repetition is critical! ... Most accidents involve smart people doing stupid things. Repeat all your safety instructions, even those that seem like common sense. Repeat them on a schedule and also randomly in the office and on the job site.

Be Dramatic ... Has someone in your company ever had a severe injury on the job? Even a minor injury is an opportunity to show an example of what not to do. Take digital photographs of an injury and, if necessary, incorporate them into your orientation to make your point.

Create a Culture ... Talk about safety until it becomes a habit. When safety becomes a habit for all your employees, you have made it!

Take a safety inventory. Does your company have:

• A person on staff dedicated to safety?
• A written safety policy with clearly defined consequences for safety infractions?
• Trucks equipped with first aid kits (completely stocked), fire extinguishers, flares, and emergency phone numbers?
• Regularly scheduled safety tailgate meetings?
• Recognition programs for employees who practice safe work habits?
• MSDS sheets for all chemicals, both in the office and in the vehicles carrying those chemicals?

If you are missing any of the above, you have some work to do to become a safety conscience company. Remember, it only takes one accident to ruin a successful business.

9/03

By Maria Candler, CLP, James River Grounds Management, Inc., Glen Allen, VA