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The Department of the Navy is not the only organization striving to reduce
mishaps. General industry in the private sector has been putting increased
emphasis--and money--into reducing lost work time. In DoN, lost work time
means reduced readiness; in the private sector, it cuts into production
and profits.
A new report from non-profit organization that tracks business trends
suggests that the effort and money industry is putting into safety are
paying off. The Conference Boards survey of leading U.S. companies
reports that the rate of lost-time accidents and injuries, as well as
incidents reported to OSHA, are steadily declining. 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. Recorded incidents have
declined an average of more than 23 percent--trends that are generally
consistent with OSHA statistics, according to The Conference Board. What
is interesting is that, in the Navy, lost work time cases (between 1993
and 2003) decreased 40%, but from 1999 to 2002 declined only about 15%.
The study shows that companies in general industry are not only
striving for compliance but also developing best practices in an effort to
reduce costs, improve morale and increase productivity. Eighty-four
percent of surveyed companies have adopted 23 best practice strategies
listed in the survey.
"Operational integration," defined in the survey as the
integration of safety into all facility operations and processes, was the
most highly rated practice in the survey. It has been adopted by 90
percent of survey participants. Ratings for some of the more traditional
programs, such as safety committees and training, were less positive. The
report's authors theorize that this may be because respondents are very
familiar with these safety and health management tools, since companies
have employed them for decades. It may also suggest that survey
participants view these programs more as necessary obligations than best
practices, the authors say.
Common safety themes that stand out as essential among responding
companies include:
- Leaders and managers are clearly visible.
- Ownership of safety and health by all employees.
- Accountability at all levels of the organization.
- Open sharing of knowledge and information throughout the
organization.
These principles are not unlike the foundation of military
effectiveness--of leadership and accountability. Recently, RADM Dick
Brooks, Commander, Naval Safety Center, gave a presentation to VCNO on the
50% mishap reduction effort: he stressed that leadership and
accountability are the key to success. The military may not be motivated
by profit, but whether production equals profit or production equals
readiness, the same motivation applies.
For more information, visit www.conference-board.org,
and visit the Naval Safety Centers
lost-work-time web page.
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