Reducing accidents and injuries can save your business money and time – two things that are often in short supply. Safety is at the root of these savings.

Safe operations begin with you or your safety manager. By working alongside and observing employees as they work you can begin to offer constructive feedback on any unsafe actions you see. Your employees will value your interest in and commitment to their safety.

During your observation, focus on the root causes of your most common and costly accidents and injuries. Accidents on the road are often a result of careless or hurried driving. Personal injuries generally include slips, trips and falls, and improper lifting techniques.

The most successful behavior modification programs are unannounced and unfiltered. Observe activities such as:

• Loading or unloading at the station or terminal
• Pre-trip, in-route or post-trip inspections
• Adjusting mirrors and backing the vehicle
• Operating the vehicle on the road
• Routine tasks during stops

The primary goal of your observation is to coach employees on understanding their at-risk behavior and develop corrective actions. Feedback must be immediate, unbiased and constructive. This should not be used to find fault, but to show true interest in the employee’s safety and well-being.

By teaching your employees safe habits, at-risk behaviors and costly collisions can be reduced.