How do you create a workplace that is safe for your employees? Design perfect guidelines? Enforce stringent policies? Rules and regulations, even at their best, won’t actually improve the safety of a workplace unless both the organization and its workers value a safety-first work ethic.
Today, Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab) is ranked in the top 1 percent in the United States for overall safety and health performance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Our achievements have been accomplished because we truly care about our Sanford Lab family,” said Larry Jaudon, director of the Environment, Safety and Health Department (ESH) at Sanford Lab.
Promoting a safety-first attitude, or a safety culture, is central to the goals of the third annual Safe + Sound Week. During the second week of August, a coalition of safety organizations will recognize “the successes of workplace health and safety programs.” Throughout the week, organizations including Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the National Safety Council will offer ideas and information on how to best keep America’s workers safe.
How does Sanford Lab’s ESH team promote safety culture? Here are a few steps that greatly contribute to the safety-first attitude of Sanford Lab workers:
- A safe environment
The first step in establishing safety culture is to provide a safe workspace where employees aren’t exposed to hazards like dangerously-loud noises or particulates in the air.
“We recognize the importance of chronic health-related risks, and we have a skilled industrial hygienist on the Sanford Lab team,” said Jaudon. “We have monitoring programs for respirable and inhalable dust, hearing conservation programs, annual medical evaluations for specific safety sensitive functions and quarterly health and wellness checks available for all employees.”
An environment designed to promote long-term health sets a sturdy stage for safety culture.
- Acknowledging hazards
Teams must also recognize that not all jobs are inherently safe. The ESH team at Sanford Lab uses a planning process to proactively identify the hazards and risks associated with each task performed.
“We then assign effective controls to all identified hazards and ensure that our staff are familiar with the identified risks and associated safeguards,” said Jaudon.
- A well-trained team
Online interactive training programs, classroom training, on the job or task training, specialized skill or craft training and even regular refresher training courses keep employees informed of the best practices for each task.
“We put a heavy emphasis on appropriate and effective training to ensure that our men and women understand the requirements of their assigned tasks as well as policies at Sanford Lab,” said Jaudon.
- The right to stop work
A worker should never feel pressured to ignore a safety risk in order to complete a task on schedule, nor should they feel under-qualified to voice their safety concerns.
“Each team member knows they have the permission to stop any job that they believe is unsafe or if they are unclear as to the proper approach,” said Jaudon.
- Health is more than safety
Safety culture goes beyond the workplace when it addresses everyday health concerns that could impact workers. Health and wellness programs serve to educate and inform workers about such health issues.
“We emphasize such areas as breast cancer awareness, colorectal health concerns, heart health, proper hydration, fatigue management and many others,” said Jaudon. The Sanford Lab Health and Wellness Program has been classified as best-in-class amongst the nation’s national labs.
“The entire Sanford Lab organization is committed to being ranked amongst the top performers in the world as it pertains to effective safety and health management,” said Jaudon. “Providing a safe and healthy work environment for Sanford Lab is foundational to everything we do.”
The Environmental, Safety and Health, and Quality Assurance Department at Sanford Underground Research Facility promotes health and safety in the workplace, as well as healthy living and wellness for all employees. If you have questions about health and wellness, please contact our occupational health nurse, Laura Baatz, who is onsite daily at lbaatz@sanfordlab.org.