In Part
1 and Part
2 of this series, we covered the driver selection, education and company’s
expectation components of a fleet safety program. In this final installment, we’ll look at the supervisor’s obligations, disciplinary action and use of personal
vehicles.
Supervisor Obligations
Supervisors play an essential role in carrying out a fleet [...]

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Last week, in Part 1 of this series, I outlined a six-step process that JHSC members can use to decide which solutions to recommend to management to address health and safety problems. Let’s now look at a case study showing the process in action.
A Brief Review
As you recall, the six steps JHSCs should take [...]

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Dear SafetyXChange Members,
Managers seeking new jobs often have to relocate. Trying to find a job in a new region, state or city is tough enough. Conducting the search when you’re not in the area makes it doubly tough. When the market to which you’re relocating is also undergoing a crisis, it’s triply tough. Finding [...]

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Today, the average employee is expected to work harder, faster and smarter
than ever before. The supervisory support you give your workers can determine
whether they cope with these demands or buckle under them.
The Leadership Factor
According to workplace health and productivity consultant Dr. Mark Tager, the
“good old days” of stable jobs, ample manpower and consistency in
the workplace [...]

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When I first started as a safety supervisor, my motives were pure. All I wanted to do was help other people. My goal was to show fellow employees how to work safely. Hazards were my enemy and I swore never to let company “politics” lure me away from the pure and noble causes I was [...]

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Last week, we discussed the key components of a fleet safety program and covered the first element: driver selection criteria. This week, we’ll discuss driver training, orientation and company expectations. (Editor’s Note: the Vehicle Inspection Checklist referred to in this article can be found in the Tools section of SafetyXChange.)
Defensive Driving & Other Education [...]

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Health and safety committees are an important institution in the North American workplace. In Canada, the provincial occupational health and safety laws typically require employers to establish a joint health and safety committee (JHSC), or, if it’s a smaller company, to designate a health and safety representative in lieu of a JHSC. In the U.S., [...]

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Dear SafetyXChange Members,

Yesterday, a colleague e-mailed me something interesting. It was an article basically reminding the reader of the need to carefully manage our work relationships so that others don’t take advantage of us. My first reaction: “Why in the world is she sending me an article like this?”
Confessions of a Deadline Dreader
Upon reflection, I [...]

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Fall protection is a complex subject. It takes hours, if not days, just to come to grips with the regulatory requirements. And the regulations represent only a minimum standard. As safety professionals, we should be concerned with not just meeting the regulations but going beyond them. That might involve implementing voluntary standards from organizations such [...]

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The goal: To get management to embrace accountability for safety. The strategy: To demonstrate the link between safety and financial performance. The tactics: To conduct extensive research of company performance, build a case and seek the input of others within the company, including the CFO. Last time, I spoke about setting the stage for the [...]

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