Report finds safer workplaces in U.S

The U.S. workplace has become increasingly safe for workers, according to a new report from the Conference Board.

"From 1999 to 2002, the number of lost-time cases per 100 full-time employees in surveyed firms declined by an average of more than 40 percent, and recorded incidents have declined an average of more than 23 percent," according to "Driving Toward '0': Best Practices in Corporate Safety and Health."

The most recent data available from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirm that the rates of work-place injuries and fatalities fell to the lowest points ever in 2002. Agency statistics show that the total number of lost-time cases per 100 full-time employees declined slightly from 3.0 in 1999 to 2.8 in 2002. The numbers have been declining steadily since 1990's rate of 4.1.

The Conference Board report identifies eight core elements that are the key to successful safety and health strategies:

* The top executive sets the tone and expectations for managers and employees.

* Employees are confident in the company's commitment to safety.

* A company's safety and health management system works for that particular company.

* Health and safety performance are monitored.

* Management is visibly supportive of safety and health strategies.

* All employees have ownership in safety strategies.

* All levels of the organization are held accountable.

* Knowledge and information are shared openly.

"There are similar core principles in play at companies striving toward zero accidents and injuries, but there is no common template," said Meredith Armstrong Whiting, a senior research fellow at the Conference Board and one of the report's co-authors. "Each company faces unique needs and opportunities inherent in the nature of its operations, workplaces and corporate culture. But the move toward strengthening safety is now widespread."

Eighty-four percent of the survey respondents said they have adopted the 23 best practices included in the survey. "Employee involvement contained the lowest number of widely accepted best practices," according to the report. While more than 90 percent of the companies surveyed report using progressive discipline to encourage safety, a majority give the program a mid-level rating on effectiveness.

A primary driver of success in achieving outstanding safety and health performance appears to be a conviction that accidents and injuries are unacceptable at a company's operations, combined with a "firm belief" that business benefits from improved performance, reduced costs, improved morale and increased productivity.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Society for Human Resource Management
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group