SAFETY INCENTIVE
PROGRAM
Safety Program
O Incentive plans cannot be used alone
O They must be only a piece of the safety
program
O Employees must be properly trained for jobs
O They must be trained on how to recognize
hazards
O They must be trained and have access to a
written safety program so they know the
company rules
Safety Program
O Safety policy which outlines the company’s
commitment to a safe workplace
O Policies stating employees’ responsibilities and
accountabilities
O Management support for safe practices
O Rules for job performance and conduct to help keep
the workplace safe
O Corrective action plan (training, disciplinary actions,
etc.)
O Performance appraisal system
O Safety committee
O Designation of those responsible for safety
monitoring
Support from Management
and Supervisors
O Management and supervisors must believe
in the incentive program
O The program should be fair and properly
administered
O Employees need to think they can actually
achieve the rewards
Establishing the Safety
Incentive Program
O Your approach may depend on many
variables:
O Nature of operations
O Size
O Number of employees
O Number of work locations (including fixed and
temporary job sites)
O Which employees will be included
O Budget for program
Establish Goals
O Decide why you want to start an incentive
program and what you expect from it
O Reduce lost time accidents
O Reduce number of injuries
O Improve awareness of safety issues and
procedures
O Reinforce your company’s formal Safety
Program
Who is Awarded
O Pick which employees will be included in the
program and how they will be awarded
O Team
O Individual
O Department
O Everyone
Prize Selection
O Company logo items (pens,
flashlights, blankets, clothing)
O Cash
O Gift cards
O Safety items (safety glasses,
work shoes, hard hats)
O Accumulated points for
catalog selection
O Lunch
Appoint Program Coordinator
O Someone who is responsible for the
program and can monitor how it affects your
overall safety program
O Could be a safety representative, manager,
supervisor, etc.
Recognition
O There should be a way to inform
employees of performance
and/or standings
O Winners should be announced
O Management must recognize
employees for their efforts
O Some examples of recognition:
O Pat on the back
O Praise for a job well done
O Lunch with owner/manager
O Announcement at meeting
O Postings on bulletin board
Reporting Injuries and
Illnesses
O Employees must report injuries
and illnesses
O The Incentive program should
not discourage reporting
O OSHA discourages incentive
programs that reward
reductions of “lagging
indicators"
O Lost time accidents
O Injuries (such as back
injuries)
O OSHA recordables
O Days without an accident
Leading Indicators
O Safety training session
attendance
O Identifying unsafe
conditions
O Safety suggestions
O Completing safety
checklists/inspections
O Employees displaying
safe acts/behaviors
Kick Off
O Present the program to all
employees
O Go over rules, prizes, and most
importantly – the overall goal
O Answer any questions the
participants have
O Get them excited about the
program
O Management must be involved in
this meeting
Ideas of Specific
Incentive Programs
Safety Slogans
O Employees submit safety slogans
O A board, or the safety committee, selects a
winner
O The winner is selected
O Prize or recognition is given to the winner
O The safety slogan is posted
O This program can run for a month or longer
(up to a year)
Safety Suggestion
O Suggestion boxes are placed throughout
workplace
O Employees place safety suggestions in the boxes
O Suggestions are for corrections of unsafe acts,
conditions, and health hazards
O Each month the safety committee, or board,
reviews all entries and votes to select the winner
O A prize is given, and/or the winner’s name and
suggestion, along with corrective action, are
posted
Good Housekeeping
O Monthly inspections are completed by a member
of the safety committee
O They inspect different locations individually and
score them
O Inspectors turn their scores in
O The current scores are compared to previous
months to decide which location has the most
improvement
O Most improved location is announced and
awarded lunch, or other prize
Employee Involvement
O Involves all employees, except for managers/supervisors
O Program lasts two months, and then is started over
O Raffle tickets are distributed to employees displaying
safe behavior, reporting near-misses and those who
make safety suggestions
O Secret employee selected each term, turns in names of
those he/she observed doing safe behaviors
O All of the raffle ticket recipients’ names will be posted at
the end of each 2 month period on the safety bulletin
board for recognition.
O Once the 2 month period has ended, a winner is
selected from a random drawing and the winner
receives a $25 gift certificate, or selects a prize from a
drawing
