Creating a Safety Culture in

Lifting Operations

Safety Moment 1

Safety has

changed over

recent years.

It is getting

the recognition

it deserves

Driven

by law, industry &

Major Clients Etc.

You want the work

you play

by the rules!!

A Safety Culture in Lifting Operations - What’s the answer???

Firstly - what is the meaning of Safety Culture??

A common belief is:

Safety Culture = The product of individual and group values, attitudes,

perceptions, competencies, and patterns of behaviour that determine the

commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organization’s health and

safety management".

Lifting Operations = a very high risk occupation, with very high exposure, often

extremely complex, requiring careful detailed planning and execution by skilled,

experienced competent people.

Safety Culture 2

A true Safety Culture, regardless of how it is viewed or what it contains or how

many procedures it may have must be driven through Leadership, TOP Down.

A Safety Culture will be supported with a Safety Management System that

creates Full Compliance – following the system and its rules.

There is sometimes a belief that “worker error or stupidity” is the cause of

most accidents and whilst this in many cases may be true, it is also equally

true that Leadership have in many cases been contributing factors.

A true honest, good working Safety Culture, (the engine driving maximum

resistance towards operational hazards) involves all.

Safety Culture 3

Company fined for poor Crane Safety.

Company convicted over dangerous Lifting Operations.

Safety blitz by authorities on Lifting Operations sites.

Workers return to work after Crane Operations strike.

Firm sorry for employee death during Lifting Operations.

Negligence resulted in fatalities during Crane Operation.

Director goes to jail – after Lifting Operations fatality.

It will never

happen to me!!! 4

Did you look

the other way?? 5

Which culture does

this represent??

Claims 6

Creating a Safety Culture is not just about following rules.

Being good at following rules only means you are good at following rules.

A good Safety Culture will only occur when employers and employees

embrace safety because they want to, not because they have to.

So, how does a Heavy Lift and Modular

Transport Company create a Safety Culture?

What I will talk about today is how we,

“Mammoet”

Perceive Safety Culture

Safety Culture 7

Belief is an integral part of a good Safety Culture.

Examples are:

Safety of employees, contractors, the public, are our number one priority.

Accountability for Safety rests at all times with managers

Responsibility for Safety rests with all employees

Believe in Safety vigilance at all times

Human error is normal and can be expected

Human errors are a learning opportunity

People are fallible and will make mistakes

Engagement in safe behaviors is necessary for safe operations

Legal compliance is a minimum, we will strive to do better

In a ‘just’ safety-culture, people do come to work intending to do a good job.

Safety Culture

Requires Belief 8

Culture

Safety Culture does not change because we desire to change it.

Safety Culture changes when the organization is transformed.

Safety Culture reflects the realities of people working together every day.

Some approaches recommend top-down.

Others insist on a grassroots approach.

Some demand revolution and others promote evolution.

9

Involvement of Senior Management – social visits to the worksite.

Quality Training Systems and Programs

Open door policy

Safety Reps in the field.

Non Police like mentality

Ability to Educate, motivate and mentor

Have a no blame culture

Use all undesirable situations as learning opportunities.

Respect – two way traffic

Incentive, but worthwhile, owned by the people not the management.

Listen and react even if the answer is not what they want to hear.

Refresher Programs

A firm and fair disciplinary system.

Ingredients 10

Ensuring that the correct training packages are in place

Ensuring that training is delivered by the right people.

Having authority and understanding responsibility

Recognizing limits of authority and use of Line management

Management engagement with all employees

Ingredients

Where does this all start??

In our own back yard – not upon arrival at the job or clients site.

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Requirement –

Good Attitude and Behavior

A good Safety Behavioral Program

requires:

Dedication of all employees

Your personal interest in safety success

Total Management Commitment

Responsibility is a

WITHOUT TOTAL SUPPORT FROM THE WORKFORCE,

MANAGEMENT AND OUR CLIENTS THE PROGRAM IS SET TO FAIL.

12

People

People – getting the right people & retaining them.

Recruitment and selection are a crucial stage.

Trained people

Skilled people

Experienced people

Competent people.

People with the correct mindset

People who respect values.

This applies at all levels within the organization.

Empowering field level people with safety management decisions

13

Rigorous and meaningful training, essential, fundamental requirement by all.

Training & Coaching programs are delivered to all on the following:

Management Leadership & Supervisor Safety Coaching

Risk Assessment and Analysis

Completion of and use of JSA/JHA/SWMS

Step Back 5 x 5 – looking for the peripherals on the edge.

The Mammoet Minute

Active participation in Pre-Start Meetings & Toolbox Talks

Participation in intervention

Participation in observation, engagement with all employees

Completion of Workplace Inspections. (conditions/environment/equipment)

Incident Investigation, implementation of preventative measures.

Re-Start Program after leave.

Elements & Training 14

Step Card 15

Observation Card 16

Intervention Card 17

Pro-Active Safety supports good Safety Culture.

Continuous development of and executing Safety Strategy

Strive to achieve Safety Culture Excellence

Incentives, Rewards and Motivation.

Effective Safety Communication

Behavior-Based Safety approach at all times.

Integration of Safety within all departments & environments

Having Safety Measurement/Metrics as a routine

Pulse Surveys and Measuring Safety Perceptions

Assessing and/or Prioritizing areas of concern.

Seize every Safety improvement opportunity

Maintaining the System 18

Motivation can change attitude and attitude drives behavior

In general when a person changes their attitude, their behavior will

typically follow.

Attitude is an extremely important part of any working environment.

When a person understands that their work is controllable in a

measurable way, acceptance of safety as part of the work environment will

be increased.

Good understanding of the above will soon lead to safe attitudes and

behaviors being adopted.

Found Effects of

Attitude & Behavior 19

When attitude becomes a normal element in a work environment behavior

will be naturally influenced

Peers and coworkers will expect each other to practice safety as an

INTEGRAL PART OF WORK and not as a REQUIREMENT OF WORK

All workers will expect each others protection, in turn, this will decrease

accident and incident rates.

Please remember, Management are accountable & responsible for the

promotion of safety, everyone is responsible for the sustaining of a good

Safety Culture and safe working environment.

ATTITUDE IS A KEY TO SUSTAINING A SAFE WORKING PLACE

Found Effects of

Attitude & Behavior 20

Good Safety Culture = successful BBS Programs.

Commitment (buy-in) must be at all levels

Treat as an investment in assets, (people) not a cost

Provide the proper tools, training and information for all

Ensure a robust system for hazard prevention and control

More learning and less blaming philosophy

Integration of your systems into a continuous improvement strategy

Have Full Compliance and Stop Work Authority Policy

Reward and celebrate success

Conclusion

Ah, yes, before anyone asks, yes, it may take longer to do the job!!!!

SO WHAT???

21

Ladies & Gentlemen, yes there is outlay – all recoverable in savings elsewhere

IF:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Equals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then: K N O W L E D G E

11 + 14 + 15 + 23 + 12 + 5 + 4 + 7 + 5 = 96%

H A R D W O R K

8 + 1 + 18 + 4 + 23 + 15 + 18 + 11 = 98%

BOTH VERY IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS – HOWEVER -

A T T I T U D E

1 + 20 + 20 + 9 + 20 + 21 + 4 + 5 = 100%

To create a good Safety Culture

GOOD ATTITUDE & GOOD BEHAVIOUR ARE KEY INGREDIENTS

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