EHS

Mashari albagaaway

Project Assignment 2

The criteria that EHS uses to rate company safety programs is based on how effective the program is in ensuring the safety of the workers by measuring the reaction rate, the time it saves, and if the program is cost-effective. EHS examines the improvement in the quality of work after the implementation of a safety program and how it improves the lives of its workers. Time is a crucial factor to consider for any company as it seriously influences the output level and the growth rate. EHS also looks at how training modules a company puts in place to educate employees and the strength of the organization that has implemented the program. With this form of criteria, EHS is able to rate company safety programs (Hopwood & Thompson, 2006).

Caterpillar gained recognition as one of America’s safety companies when it launched a safety strategic emphasis in 2003 called the Safety Strategic Improvement Process (SIP), which lowered injuries and illnesses by 85% in ten years. These elements of the program include: enterprise wide statement of safety culture Global process, tools and metrics, top-down leadership of engagement with the process, clearly defined and linked roles and responsibilities, clearly defined accountability, consistent methods establishing targets and reporting performance, consistent criteria for prioritizing issues and aligning resources, and recognition for positive behavior and performance (Hopwood & Thompson, 2006). The difference in safety in Caterpillar as compared to other companies was due to the company’s level of reaction in terms of investigation and safety meetings, what the company saw in the form of inspections, observation programs and job safety analysis. What the company did to utilize safety accountability systems, what it believed, the level of engagement in the form of data-driven safety teams and how they were lead influenced their success in ensuring safety (Hopwood & Thompson, 2006).

A company such as Miliken & Co which is a two-time Americas Safest companies winner has a world-class safety program which involves operating safely by communicating that the company does not want anyone to get hurt. This has helped the company to prevent an estimated $17.1 million in income loss. Aside from the CEO communicating that safety is a value, he follows up and reviews the mechanisms as well. The organizational structure of the company is also strong in the sense that it includes subject matter expertise and compliance capability (Hopwood & Thompson, 2006). The company is flexible but standardizes in matters related to safety. The company also has educational policies in place that aid in training its employees thus ensuring a successful safety process. A solid case management is also in place, which helps in the moment of an injury. These operations are what have helped Miliken to be a winner of America’s safest companies (Hopwood & Thompson, 2006).

The ideas that are most important in learning as a future safety professional are that safety has an impact on corporate sustainability and social responsibility. If a company invests in ensuring that its workforce is healthy and safe, it will stand to gain more in the long run. A company should always challenge itself by finding better and improved ways of doing things but keeping safety at the center of everything in order to ensure the success of its objectives. The leadership of a company should play an active role in ensuring the safety of its workers. Integrating sustainability with safety and health positively impacts employee satisfaction and this leads to higher output (Hopwood & Thompson, 2006).