To paraphrase Fortune magazine, the flattened network organization has changed the style of command and control. Collaboration is in. Managers and workers have to practice cooperation and collaboration. A direct quote from the magazine: "The environment increasingly encourages this collaboration by the devolution of power and delegation of duties, right down to the empowered, self-managed worker." I'd like to talk a bit more about empowerment from the perspective of health and safety.

The Essence of Empowerment

That same Fortune magazine article makes the following observations on empowerment: "The essence of the idea is simple. Organize employees into teams that can cut across old boundaries. Train them. Put them into jobs that challenge their abilities. Give them the information they need. Tell them what they need to accomplish. Then turn them loose. Self-directed teams make decisions, set their own goals, and take responsibility."

We should think about these observations and picture them in effect within the context of our health and safety programs. How do they challenge our conventional thinking about safety programs and the role of safety professionals? What are some of the impediments to an empowered workforce from a health and safety point of view?

What's Holding Back the Empowerment of Safety Professionals?

Many businesses are still struggling to define a clear role for their safety staff. Within the conventional safety program, rules and regulations are the responsibility of a head office safety person. This individual's role includes enforcement of safety policies and procedures.

That sounds like a formidable position. But the safety officer's position is essentially one of perceived power, I believe. The position has no real power. In point of fact, it's actually the most powerless position in the organization. Just as quickly as the safety person takes credit for improved safety performance, he or she is saddled with responsibility when safety performance doesn't improve. It is at this point where most safety officers jump off the bandwagon.

Changing the Approach

Consider the differences between a traditional and modern safety program:

Traditional safety program characteristics:

Characteristics of more progressive approaches to safety:

Conclusion

My recommendation: Each of us should consider the differences between the conventional and progressive approach and determine which one offers the greatest potential for improving safety performance. Which approach's style best reflects you and your business? Which one would you rather be part of?

THE ECONOMICS OF SAFETY

The Rising Costs of Employer Health Insurance

By Glenn Demby

The rising cost of health insurance is a problem for all employers. Across industries, costs increased 78% from 2001 to 2007. However, costs are rising faster for some employees than for others. A recent study from Kaiser offers insight into how the continued trending upward of health insurance costs is affecting different segments of the workforce.

For example, in 2005, health insurance costs varied from $1.64 per hour for sales workers to $3.38 per hour for professionals. Here's the complete breakdown:

However, when health insurance costs are considered as a percentage of payroll, the rankings are practically turned on their head.

SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation, "Employer Health Insurance Costs & Workers' Compensation," March 2008, http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm030808oth.cfm

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