Safety Coach
Pencil Tip Sharp
Recently, I sent details about upcoming continuing education opportunities to David Holden, senior safety specialist with the City of El Paso’s water department. I was struck by how quickly he responded. As it turns out, he makes it a practice to share this type of information with his safety team – not once, but every time he receives a communication from me.
What a leader! I reached out to tell him how impressive he is. By sharing dates of upcoming webinars and training sessions, and distributing free resources to promote safe driving behaviors, he sets a great example of a safety leader.
David’s response stuck with me: “We should learn something every day,” he said.
That is a powerful statement and one that rings particularly true in this environment. I am always quick to say safe driving is “365”; road safety applies every day of the year. This same concept applies to learning and investing in safety.
So, my question to you is this: What are you learning today?
What opportunities are you taking advantage of, and how can I help? Investing a few minutes each day in professional development and learning is important – and it’s doable. Let others on your team know about opportunities to learn or share content that will assist them in building a culture of safety. Don’t let information die with you and not get shared. You can be the game-changer, just like David!
Transportation safety is so important in the employer arena. Safety leaders, safety managers, human resources professionals and risk managers play an integral part in reducing risk, exposure to liability and keeping employees safe. Promoting road safety at work can affect off-the-job driving behaviors, too. Knowing this presents you with an awesome opportunity as a safety leader to protect your people and your employer’s bottom line.
What does it mean to you to be a safety leader? Are you passionate about the job you do? Maybe it is time to dial in on some safety learning opportunities. Every day is a good day to learn, right, David?
Reserve time on your calendar to join us online:
- Tuesday, May 19 (10-10:30 a.m.): Learn the impact of taking more than one prescription or over-the-counter medication and how to avoid impairment while driving. I will talk about wearable products used to alert illegal-drug users of a supplier who is “open for business.” Register to attend.
- Wednesday, May 27 (10-10:30 a.m.): In this free webinar, Accurate Safety Compliance founder Danny Thomas and I will discuss the importance of securing loads and share tips to prevent crashes and cut costs associated with destruction of property. Register to attend.
- Thursday, May 28 (9 a.m.-noon): Free transportation safety training covers a variety of traffic safety topics and is designed for you to take back to your company and present to your employees. Participants will receive copies of the curriculum. Register to attend.
Tailgate Talk
Crank the Volume
I talk all the time about creative ways to deliver traffic safety messages that are both effective and fun. I used a three-letter word there – F-U-N – and, yes, safety can be fun. Let me point you to the Drive Safe music video created by Helmerich & Payne as an example. The Tulsa-based oil and gas company drills shale in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford formations in Texas.
In the video, employees join in the refrain of a country ditty:
Drive Safe
Drive Safe
Don’t Throw Your Life Away
Drive Safe
Drive Safe
And Keep it Rolling On
I encourage you to share this video during a team meeting. I bet you will find it relatable, personal and relevant. Three main topics are addressed: drowsy driving, seat belt use and cellphone driver distraction. Employers regularly tackle all of these issues, just not in such an engaging way. One of the aspects I like best about the video is how 100% of the employee population is represented, from truck drivers to office workers.
You can get everyone involved in driver safety by tapping into your own creative juices. Maybe you don’t have the wherewithal to create a nifty video, but there are a number of other fun ways you can connect employees with transportation safety:
- Test your employees on their knowledge of road signs
- Print and display posters on your bulletin boards or download the files and share them on your social channels
- Share this silent looping file in your lobbies, breakrooms and other places where you post information on video monitors
All of these resources are free and on our website: txdrivingconcern.org. Take a look. Let us be your source of inspiration.