Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/117828
54 ��� APRIL 2013 ��� WORLD FENCE NEWS Toolbox talks are crucial part of overall safety program continued from page 52 regarding correction of the hazards. A second purpose is to establish procedures for investigating all safety related incidents. These are two very important functions that would be performed by the safety committee. As regard to topics, select a topic that is appropriate to your business activities and is not a waste of employees��� time, or else credibility will be lost on the part of company management. Observe job safety techniques. Focus on what is important (and certainly on what is mandatory). Listen to and follow up on company safety committee and employee recommendations. Identify what poor work practices are causing injuries or accidents on the job. Plan ahead, when possible, various topics that need to be addressed. You must not overlook the importance of training your supervisors on their responsibilities. This is an important management function, as well as being lawfully required when others are placed in charge of workers. They know the most about the people with whom they work on a daily basis, about the working equipment, materials and environments because of first line supervisory responsibilities. Remember some basic principals in giving instruction: Introduce what you are going to explain, the body of it, the larger points you want to cover, and a conclusion. Ask for questions, and conclude with a reminder of the key point which you tried to get across. Therefore, it makes sense to appropriately train supervisors so they can maximize the benefit of the safety program. Finally, design your own specialized toolbox talks. Remember some basic principals in giving instruction: Introduce what you are going to explain to them, the body of it, the larger points you want to cover, and a conclusion. Ask for questions, and conclude with a reminder of the key point which you tried to get across. Remember to keep it short and to the point; you don���t want to lose the focus and attention of the participants. These are the basic points that will hopefully get you to start a safety program, if you don���t have one in place yet. It will serve as a reason to review what you have in place, or what you need to think about modifying. In any case, by developing this program conscientiously, you might positively impact your injury and accident rates, your workers��� compensation insurance premiums, or at the very least, significantly reduce down time in your daily operation, all of which will continue to help you continue to realize that Profit Is Not A Dirty Word!��� World Fence News contributing editor Jim Lucci is president of Management Motivational Associates of Freeport, N.Y., and for many years has written a monthly column on business management and issues which affect fence company owners and managers. He is the compiler of the Fencer���s Field Report which appears monthly in World Fence News.