Blueprint for developing a culture of safety--part two: a report from the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.

• Position: Report

Your employees' actions, attitudes and beliefs turn your Culture of Safety into reality. The kind of people you hire, and how you train, discipline and reward them will determine whether you succeed in making safety an intrinsic part of your cooperative's culture. This article focuses on sustaining a culture of safety through your employees.

Make Safety a Priority From Day One

A new employee's attitude toward safety starts to take shape the first day he or she is on the job. In addition to the work rules that apply to the position, orientation also should include a top-line overview of your safety policies, and a personal introduction to your director of safety, if at all possible.

Shaping employee attitudes about safety actually begins before the first day on the job and even before an applicant is interviewed. It can start with job descriptions that specify how much and what kind of on-the-job safety training is expected annually for that position. Documenting your cooperative's safety policy at this level allows you to make safety goals part of each employee's performance evaluation, further reinforcing your commitment.

Federated's Hazard Recognition training module covers safety training that's appropriate for operational and inside employees. We've included specific examples from our claims files to encourage discussion and help participants identify potential work place dangers.

Contractors Abide by the Same Rules

Naturally, contractors and their crews must comply with the same work rules and safety regulations as your employees. Penalties and discipline for violations should be spelled out in your contract with them. For additional information on how to deal with contract crews, check out "Introduction to Loss Control and Contractor Liability." This 22-minute video covers information important for any system working with outside contractors.

Screen Supervisory and Managerial Candidates for Leadership Qualities

Managers, superintendents, foremen and lead linemen are in the best positions to enforce safety rules and promote the ideas that support a Culture of Safety. When evaluating candidates for these positions, look beyond years of experience on the job or technical skills for the potential to be a leader and make tough calls when a situation requires it.

Your assessment need not be subjective. Making safety goals and safety training part of every employee's annual evaluation process offers the means to measure an individual's commitment to safety. In addition to specific work experience, you also can make safety issues part of the minimum requirements to apply for promotion. For example, you could require a specific time period with no write-ups for work rule violations, plus safety training above and beyond what's required for an applicant's current position.

Federated offers two training modules to provide you with...