Report Suggests 5 Ways to Improve Safety

May 16, 2024

ASSP report is based on conversations with safety executives.

ASSP says safety professionals must influence how new employees are trained.

A new online report produced by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is intended to help safety professionals improve worker safety and health (OSH). The reports are based on interviews with safety executives to discover trends impacting their companies and the safety and health profession.

The reports are part of the association’s Corporate Listening Tour, which helps inform and direct both ASSP and corporate initiatives that advance worker safety and health, according to the ASSP. The project is led by Jennifer McNelly, the association’s CEO.

Nearly 5,500 fatal work injuries occurred in 2022. 'This means a worker died every 96 minutes,' says Jennifer McNelly, CEO. 'That’s simply not acceptable. On-the-job fatalities and serious injuries are preventable.” — Nearly 5,500 fatal work injuries occurred in 2022. "This means a worker died every 96 minutes," says Jennifer McNelly, CEO. "That’s simply not acceptable. On-the-job fatalities and serious injuries are preventable.”

“The report proposes a set of questions to help spark discussions among safety teams as well as with their colleagues and corporate leaders,” McNelly said in a statement. “It’s through proactive conversations about trends and potential risks that we can better integrate program improvements to reduce worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”

The 2024 Corporate Listening Tour Report highlights five key findings.

5 steps to improve safety

1. Focus on What Matters. Prioritize the prevention of serious injuries and fatalities over minor incidents to avoid spreading resources too thin. This might mean accepting a slight increase in less severe incidents, but it’s ultimately about spending valuable time and resources where they count the most.

2. Manage Workforce Changes and Safety Priorities. With unpredictable shifts in the workforce and a shortage of skilled labor, keeping everyone safe becomes more challenging. High turnover and the struggle to attract and keep good employees increase the risk of incidents and employee burnout. Safety professionals must influence how new employees are trained and provide input on retention strategies.

3. Embrace OSH-Related Applications of AI. Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is constantly reshaping how we work. Although this brings opportunities for safety improvements, it also introduces new risks. OSH professionals should focus on using AI to enhance safety while ensuring the organization doesn’t neglect traditional safety practices that have proven to be effective.

4. Manage Cultural Shifts and Governance in Uncertain Times. Economic and political uncertainties affect how businesses operate. OSH professionals can drive changes in organizational culture – making sure leaders take accountability for safety – and demonstrate its importance even in uncertain times.

5. Empower Influential OSH Leaders in the Changing Workplace. OSH professionals must maintain their technical skills and certifications while seeking organizational support to become better leaders who can drive operational excellence.

The report contains further discussion of each finding along with ideas for implementation.

About the Author

Rod Sutton

Sutton has served as the editorial lead of Construction Equipment magazine and ConstructionEquipment.com since 2001.

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