08 Oct Getting More Safety Training Engagement Through Incentive Programs
As multiple industries continue to evolve with the help of new advancing technologies – especially in industrial and manufacturing sectors – there has been an increased demand for employees with specialized skills. However, many roles that help support these industries have certain safety risks.
While working in hazardous conditions is part of many organizations’ jobs, creating comprehensive safety training programs is critical to reducing workplace injuries. Unfortunately, many of these safety programs don’t always consider how to keep all employees engaged equally.
Organizations can change this narrative by increasing employee involvement in safety training and developing a safer and more informed workforce.
Where Do Traditional Safety Programs Fall Short?
Despite many companies prioritizing employee safety, traditional safety programs often fall short. This can be attributed to various factors, including:
- Content is too repetitive – Long, text-heavy manuals and complicated instructions during safety training can result in boredom and disinterest among employees. This can make it very challenging for employees to absorb important information.
- Information overload – Most people today have much shorter attention spans than in years past. Presenting lengthy or repetitive training sessions can make it overwhelming for employees to absorb and more challenging to apply what they’ve learned.
- Compliance over safety focus – Although industry compliance standards are critical, overemphasizing rules or penalties during training can create a culture that’s more surrounded by fear or blame. This can discourage employees from proactively identifying and addressing safety hazards and instead focus strictly on operational requirements.
- Safety Programs are Not Unique Enough – Generic training programs can fail to address the specific risks or challenges faced by various departments and supporting roles in an organization. A more effective approach should involve customizing training programs to meet certain employee’s needs.
How Incentive Programs Improve Safety Awareness
Incentive programs of any type can be a great way to improve employee engagement or participation. When applied to safety training, they can be effective in helping employees get more out of the program and reinforcing safer workplace behavior.
The great thing about incentive programs is they’re highly adaptable and can be structured to support more focus and knowledge retention. This encourages employees to closely adhere to safety protocols and participate in safety training sessions.
Incentive programs are effective because of the positive reinforcement when receiving certain rewards. If an employee receives a tangible form of recognition like a gift card or other type of incentive when they complete a task, they’re more inclined to repeat those actions.
Some benefits that safety programs provide include:
- Decreased accidents and injuries
- Improved morale in the workplace
- Increased productivity
- Better employee retention
Practical Ways to Implement a Safety Incentive Program
To ensure your safety incentive program’s success of your safety incentive program while maximizing its impact on your employees, below are a few practical strategies you can apply.
Set Achievable Goals
It’s important to lay out the different goals you want your safety reward program to achieve. This will help align the program with your overall business objectives.
For example, you may want your objective to include a specific measurement for how well you’re able to reduce workplace injuries over a certain period. This could be to lower workplace injuries by a certain percentage in a year or simply stay at zero.
When you take the time to identify objectives upfront, it enables the business to evaluate the program’s long-term effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments along the way.
Monitor Your Metrics
Track the progress of your safety program by establishing any relevant metrics. Even though each business is different, the metrics that you decide on should always be objective and quantifiable.
When designing your business metrics, some of the common areas to focus on should be the total number of safety incident reports, attendance rates at your safety briefings, and any employee feedback received after they attend their safety training.
Offer Incentive Rewards
One of the most important elements of an incentive program is the incentives themselves. You’ll want to select meaningful rewards that likely get the attention.
Not all employees may be motivated by the same incentives, so it’s important to consider testing various options or allowing employees to have some form of flexibility in the rewards they receive.
While many businesses may choose to use a gift card or other monetary incentive, there may be some alternative rewards you can offer that have the same effect. Offering additional time off or other workplace perks, for example, could be another valuable incentive worth offering in your program.
Spend Time Educating Employees About the Program
Open, effective communication is essential when designing a new safety incentive program. Make sure all employees understand how the safety program actually works. This can be done by communicating any expectations clearly during company meetings or safety briefings.
Take the time to share regular updates on your program’s progress over the year and highlight any specific employee achievements or milestones. This transparency addresses any concerns and creates a more inclusive environment for participation.
Make Sure You’re Getting Full Participation
When looking to maximize the effectiveness of your safety reward program, make sure you’re maximizing participation from everyone in the company. To help achieve this, it’s critical to instil the fact that workplace safety is a shared responsibility and not just a box that needs to be checked.
Make Your Employee Safety Top Priority
Your safety reward program can be a powerful tool for creating a more proactive safety culture in your organization.
By stepping away from traditional training methods and looking for a more engaging and motivating experience for employees, you’ll be able to ensure employees take their training programs seriously and create a safer environment for everyone.
About The Author
Cindy Mielke is passionate about the incentive industry. In addition to her role as Vice President of Strategic Partners here at Tango, she is a Certified Professional in Incentive Management who proudly serves on two industry boards. When she’s not working, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family—including three cats, two dogs, and a horse—and sharing her love of nature as a Nebraska Master Naturalist.
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