Successful implementation of occupational health and safety programs in manufacturing for the 1990s

Abstract

Occupational health and safety activities should keep up with changing times. Many traditional safety activities may not be effective any longer. The implementation of a safety program often proves to be a disappointment. Despite that, it may be possible to develop “super programs” which would start to propagate by themselves, and would work like a vaccination, or a friendly virus. Positive feedback has shown to have potential for such a program. If workers experience the results of a program positively, they may also be willing to participate in other safety activities. Thereby, the values of an organization are gradually revised, and consequently, new safety activities initiated. Some of the essential elements of successful safety programs in the 1990s are: positive approaches focused on organizations rather than individuals, rewarding the individuals, and providing visible results.