An Effective Safety Incentive Program
The majority of U.S. businesses use a safety incentive program as part of their larger health and safety program. Incentives build and maintain employee interest in working safely. Incentives also act as a motivator to keep employees working safely.

The five critical elements to an effective safety program are:

• First, an effective safety program must include adequate training. Employees cannot be expected to act safely if they don’t know what is expected. Incentives become bribes to ignore injuries if employees are not taught to recognize safety risks.
• Second, every safety program must have a benchmark from which to measure performance.
• Third, management must participate in and promote the program.
• Fourth, structure the safety incentive program on well-established goals. Link the rewards to the goals. Additionally rewards should be tailored to the workforce. If an incentive has no value to the workers, they will be uninterested in the program.
• Lastly, communicate the details of the program company-wide.

Safety incentive awards programs are not a substitute for training, safety meetings, equipment, management involvement and commitment. An incentive program is simply another tool in maintaining a safe and healthy workforce.

Source: Safety Incentive Programs: A Critical Assessment, www.irmi.com, April 2001 & Incentive Programs Reflect Management’s Attitude, www.ishn.com, May 9, 2000.